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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  tachniquM  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instltuta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  the  beat 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
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Couverture  de  couieur 


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Couverture  endommagie 

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Couverture  restaurie  at/ou  pellicul^e 

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Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encra  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noi 


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Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

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Rail*  avec  d'autras  documents 


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I      I    Bound  with  other  material/ 


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une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m«thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


D 
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Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  at/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d*color*es,  tacheties  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachues 


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Transparence 

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Qualit*  inigale  de  ('impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit.., 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~j    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


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10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


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12X 


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The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

University  of  Windsor 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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Original  copiee  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^"  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
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right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film*  f ut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gin^rositi  de: 


Univsrsity  of  Windsor 

lis  images  suivantes  ont  «t«  reproduites  avec  le 
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de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  f  ilm«,  et  en 
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filmage. 

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par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sent  filmte  en  commandant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
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cas:  le  symbols  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  ie 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
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de  I'angle  sup«rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
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illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

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MA 


THE    LIFE 


OF 


MAJOR    JOHN    ANDRE. 


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LDJUTANT-C 


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D.    AI 


THE   LIFE 


OF 


MAJOR  JOHN  ANDRE, 

LDJnTANT.CE.VEUAL  OF   THE  BRIT.S,,  akmY  IN  AMERICA. 


BY 


WINTHROP  SARGEKT. 


S 


Truth,  naked,  unblushing  truth,  the  first  vlrfim  ^f  «, 


NEW  YORK : 
D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY 
549   &   651   BROADWAY.  ' 

1871. 


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Biitored  uccorJiiiK  to  Act  of  Oonptrogg,  In  the  year  1800.  by 

WlNTIIROP  SAROKJfT, 

la  theUleik"M  Ofllco  of  tlio  Distrist  Court  of  tho  District  of  MaBsachuscttw 


TO   THK 


HONORABLE  jari:d  sparks, 


AS  A    MEMORIAL  OP 


PUBLIC    ADMIRATION  AND   PERSONAL   FRIENDSHIP. 


THIS     VOLUME 


TS   RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED. 


o    ^ 


217  6  8 


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The  present  edition  of  Winthrop  Sargent's  "Me- 
moirs of  Major  Andre  »  is  published,  as  the  most  lit- 
tinoj  memorial  which  those  who  loved  him  best  can 
make  of  a  life  now  ended.    For,  although  this  work, 
which  is  but  one  of  many  historical  essays  that  were 
the  fruit  of  his  studious  youth,  would  alone  suffice  to 
guard  their  author's  name  "against  the  tooth  of 
time  and  razure  of  oblivion,"  none  the  less  do  it  and 
all  his  other  writings  seem,  to  those  who  knew  him 
well,  but  the  vernal  promise  of  an  autumn  which 
never  came.     Yet,  in  what  he  accomplished,  is  so 
much  knowledge,  so  correct  a  judgment  of  men  and 
things,  such  graceful  power  of  thought  and  style, 
that  this  promise  may  stand  beside  the  riper  work  of 
others ;  but 

"  Lycidaa  ig  dead,  dead  ere  his  prime." 


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PREFACE. 


if''"' 


The  romanho  nature  of  the  circumstances  which 
0  nect  the  name  of  Major  Andrd  with  the  histo^f 
our  Revolufon  .nduced  me  some  time  ago  to  inline 
more  closely  into  the  details  of  a  cha.cte!-  that  TZ 
t   have  msp.red  so  warm  an  interest  in  the  mindsTf 

-s^Tat^frrcrr^'-  ^" '''  - 

oB.ining  information  has  ^JlZZZC 

With  my  labors  nor  desires       ^T.       •       •    /  ? 

1  ut-hires.      j\o   pains   mdeerl  wp^o 

spared  to  procure  intelligence  conceding  Ant    T 

self.      Everj  rep„s.tory  that  could  be  heard  of  was 

mumble  their  wisdom  o'er  the  gossip's  bowl"  have 

been  carefully  gathered  and  sifted  '  Th„s,  ml    „T 

ous  matter  more  or  loss  relevant  to  his  sto.y  lis  be  n 

brought  together  from  one  quarter  or  anothe  T  and 

S w'th'wh?^'  '"  ''""'"'  '''-"'y  •'-  '-own  a 

eral  of  the   manuscript  authorities  that  I  have  made 

a  cofv^t :;  ''^. """'' "'  '"^  «-^  c'-'-t 

a  copy  of  Stedinan's  American  War,  and  the  ori^i- 


m  J 


I 
I 


..'^^^^^hI 

tH^^^I 

viii 


PKEIACE. 


nal  Journals  and  papers  of  members  of  eitlier  party 
m  our  Kevolution)  appeared  to  me  to  possess  no  light 
value,  and  I  thought  it  well  to  take  advantage  of  an 
opportunity  to  set  their  contents  before  the  world  ere 
the  documents  themselves  should  perish  ;  for,  as  honest 
old  Aubrey  says  -  "  'tis   pitie    that   they  should  fall 
into  the  merciless  hands  of  women,  and  be  put  under 
pic^i."     This  consideration  may  perhaps  apologize  for 
the  insertion  of  more  than  one  paragraph  whose  direct 
connection  with  the  subject  of  this  volume  might  not 
otherwise  be  very  manifest.     With  these  acquisitions, 
however,   in   hand,   and   with   such   sketches   of   the 
political   and   social   condition    of   affiu'rs    during   the 
period  as  naturally  followed  the  thread  of  the  °tory, 
the  preparation  of  the  following  pages  gave  me  a  very 
pleasant  employment  for  some  leisure  country  weeks. 
Whether   they  will  prove  as  easy  in  the   reading  as 
they  Avere  in  the  writing  is  another  question.      If  I 
have  not  entirely  pursued  the  plan  commemorated  by 
Miguel  Cervantes,  and  eked  out  my  task  with  profuse 
histories  of  every  giant  or  river  which  crosses  its  path, 
I  have  at  least   avoided   pestering  the   reader  with  J 
myriad  of  references  and  authorities.     There  are  in- 
deed vouchers  for  the  facts  put  forward :  but  to  drag 
them  all  in  on  every  occasion  great  or  small,  would 
too  much  cumber  my  text.     As  it  is,  I  fear  that  the 
critical    reader  will    find   the   book   amenable   to   the 
censure    of  the    nobleman    in  Guzman    D'Alfarache, 
who,   having   ordered   a   picture   of   his   horse,   com- 


PREFACE. 


IX 


plained   that   tliougl.   indeed   his   steed  was  faithfully 
enough  drawn,  the  canvas  was  so  loaded  with  other 
objects  —  temples,  trees,  and  the  setting  sun  —  that 
poor  Bavieca  was   the   least   prominent   part   of  the 
production.     This  is  a  fault  of  which  no  one  is  more 
conscious  than  myself;  yet  there  is  room  for  a  hope 
that  It  may  still  find  pardon,  since  many  of  the  pas- 
sages  which  are  not   immediately  personal   to  Andrd 
himself  are  nevertheless  more  or  less  involved  with 
the  mighty  events  in  which  he  was  concerned,  and 
often   are  compiled  from  sources  hitherto  unexplored 
For  access  to  many  of  these  I  am  especially  indebted 
to   the   kindness  of  Mr.  Sparks,  Mr.    Bancroft,   and 
Mr.  John  Carter  Brown,  whose  American  library  is 
the  most  admirable  collection  of  the  kind  that  I  have 
ever  seen   in   private  hands.      To  Mr.  Tefft  of  Sa- 
vannah, Mr.  Cope,  Mr.    Townsend  Ward,   and   Mr 
Penington  of  Philadelphia,  and   to  several   others,  I 
am  under  obligations   for  valuable   aid   and  friendly 
suggestions.  ^ 

The  map  that  accompanies  this  volume  is  engraved 
from  a  number  of  original  military  drawings  by  Ville- 
franche  and  other  engineers,  and  preserved  by  Major 
Sargent  of  the  American  Army,  who  was  stationed  at 
West  Pomt  as  aide  to  General  Howe  until  that  of- 
hcer  was  relieved  by  Arnold. 

WiNTHRop  Sargent. 


i 


[Andrd's  Pan 
Miss  Scwai 


[Failure  of  An( 
Day.— Mai 


[Andidjoins  tli 
—He  cornea 


|Po!itical  Condi 
ton, 


jCondition  of  C 
the  Sorel.  —  ] 


[Andre's  Captivi 
oners — Andi 
Mr.  Cope.  — 
Henry  Clintoi 


CONTEOTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  P"8« 

[Andrew's  Parentage,  Birth,  and  Early  Life.- Nicliol-i.  S^    a    i^ 

I     MissScward.-HisCourtship.-/ctterstoS;^st^^^^^^^  , 

CHAPTER  ir. 

I  Failure  of  Andre's  Courtship.  _  Richard  Lovell  Edffcworth       Thn 
I    Day. -Marriage  and  Death  of  Miss  Snevd    '^'^°^«'^"'- "  ^'»«n'a3 

-    ' 28 

CHAPTER  HI. 


TT„  „  .     t        .      ^^•'itaiij.  —  vouuition  ot  the 

^He  comes  to  America.  -  State  of  American  Affairs! 

CHAPTER  IV. 
[Political  Condition  of  Massachusetts  in  1774. -State  of  Affairs  at  Bos- 


39 


57 


CHAPTER   V. 

Pthfsll'^  ^r"n^'.  t"  1775. -Operations  on  Lake  Champlain  and 
I    the  Sorel.  -Fall  of  Fort  St.  John,  and  Capture  of  Andrd,        .  yj 

CHAPTER  VI. 

hone'.'^Tndrd';"^'?'^ '"''  '"^-"^yl-nia.- Treatment  of  Pris- 
Sir  6one  1  J^^'^^'^ns  with  the  Americans.  -  His  Letters  to 
lien,;  cLr  w!'^'.*"'*  Promotion. -Sir  Charles  Grev.-Sir 
llcnry  Chnton  and  tlie  Operations  on  the  Hudson,    .        .    "  ^3 


t 


Xll 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER  VII. 


Paft 


The  British  embark  for  Philadelphia.  —  Brandywino,  the  Paoli,  and 
Germantown.  —  Andre's  Humanity.  —  Occupation  and  Fortification 
of  Philadelphia.  —  Character  of  the  City  in  1777,   .        .        .        .100 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Affairs  at  Piiiladelphia.  —  Disorders  and  Discontents.  —  Fall  of  Red 
Bank.  —  Andr(5  follows  Grey  with  Howe  to  Whitemarsh.—  Charac- 
ter of  Sir  William  Howe, 123 


ill' 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  British  Army  in  Philadelphia.  —  Features  of  the  Occupation — 
Sir  William  Ergkine.  —  Abercrombie.  —  Simcoe.  —  Lord  Cathcart.  — 
Tarleton.  —  Andre's  Social  Relations  in  the  City.  —  Verses  composed 
by  him.  — Amateur  Theatricals.  —  Misconduct  of  the  Royal  Arms. 
—  The  Mischianza.  —  Andre's  Account  of  it.  —Howe  removed  from 
the  Command, 113 

CHAPTER  X. 

Evacuation  of  Philadelphia.  —  Battle  of  Monmouth.  — D'Estaing's  Ar- 
rival. —  Andr(5  accompanies  Grey  against  New  Bedford.  —  His  Sa- 
tirical Verses  on  the  Investment  of  Newport.  —  Aide  to  Clinton.  — 
Character  of  this  General.  — Andre's  Verses  upon  an  American  Duel,  182 


CHAPTER  XI. 

New  York  in  1778.  —  Andrd's  Political  Essay.  — His  Favor  with  Clin- 
ton.-Receives  the  Surrender  of  Fort  La  Fayette.  — Letter  to  Mrs. 
Arnold.  —  Commencement  of  Arnold's  Intrigue.  —  Appointed  Deputy 
Adjutant-General.— Siege  of  Charleston. —Letter  to  Savannah.— 
Accused  of  entering  Charleston  as  a  Spy, 206 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Clinton  returns  to  New  York.  —  Proposed  Attack  on  Rochambeau. — 
Plans  for  a  Loyal  Uprising.  —  Anecdotes  of  Andre.  —  The  Cow-Chase,  230 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Progress  of  Arnold's  Treason.  —  Condition  of  American  Affairs  in  1780. 
—  Plans  for  Surrendering  West  Point.  —  Letters  between  Andr6  and 
Arnold.  — An  Interview  Concerted.  — Andrd's  Last  Hours  in  New 
York, 2501 


CONTENTS. 


XIII 


CHAPTER  XIV.  ^"S" 

I  Robinson  Bcnt  (o  Communicate  with  Arnold.  -  Correspondence.  -  An- 
dr.^  goes  to  the  Vulture. -Correspondence  withClinton  and  Arnold. 
-  Joshua  Hett  Smith  selected  as  Arnold's  Messenger,        .  260 


CHAPTER  XV. 
I    Hans  for  Iteturn.  —  Sets  out  with  Smith  bv  Land,    . 


CHAPTER  XVI.       . 

[Andre's  Journey  _  AVcstchester  County.  -  Skinners  and  Cow-boys. 
-  Andrd  s  Capture.  -Various  Accounts  of  its  Circumstances,  302 

CHAPTER  X\IL 

|A..drd  a  Prisoner  in  our  Lines.  -  Intercourse  with  American  O/llcers. 
-Letters  to  Washington. -Arnold's  Escape,    .        .        .  321 

CHAPTER  XVIH. 

mUtedrfcourtTrr  ''""'~  f "'  ''  ^"'^P'''^"-  "  "'«  ^aso  sub- 
mitted to  a  Court  of  Enquiry.  -  Its  Decision  approved  by  Washing- 


s 


33(i 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Indre's  Deportment  after  the  Death-Warrant.  -  Letters  to  Clinton 
and  between  Washington  and  the  British  Generals.  -  li.nsfo  sub 
stitutmg  Arnold  for  Andrd.  -  The  Execution  delaved 


.  357 


CHAPTER  XX. 

«v-Chase,  230  p'^-^petlients  of  the  British  to  procure  Andr(5's  Liberation 
ure.  —  Correspondence  in  the  Case,    .... 


—  Their  Fail- 


373 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Uvdrd_  applies  to  be  Shot.  -  His  Request  denied.  -  He  is  hanged  - 
ory.  —  His  Remains  removed  to  Westminster  Abbev 


300 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

CHAriER  XXII.  ^"'^ 

Considerations  upon  the  Justice  of  Andrd's  Sentence. — Conflicting 
Opinions.  —  Cliaractei*  of  our  Generals.  —  Reflections  on  AndrtS's 
Fate, 413 

APPENDIX. 

No.     I.  Benedict  Arnold, .  447 

No.    II.  The  Captors, 461 

No.  III.  "Verses  connected  with  Andre's  Execution,    ....  464  1 

No.  IV.  Colonel  Benjamin  Tallmadge  to  General  Heath,   .       .  469  j 

Index.  ,  ,  .  ,  .  .         .        473 


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appear  to  h 

knanent.     Ir 

plie    biograf 

persons  beai 

pourse  it  is 

aajority  of  i 


LIFE  OP  MAJOR  ANDEi 


CHAPTER  I. 

k"""^''  '■"'"'T'  ".i'-''^"""  ^-"^y  Life -Nicholas  St.  A„drf._Mi» 

AccoBD.No  to  Dcbrett,  Burke,  and  other  geneaWical 
authonfes,  John  Andre  was  descended  from  a  Preneh 
fc-efugee  fam.ly,  settled  in  England,  a.  SoutI,an,pton,  in  "he 
tounty  of  Hants ,  but  whether  this  descent  was  by  the  pate  ! 
M  or  the  maternal  line,  does  not  appear.  His  mother,  wh^e 
^am,Iy  name  was  Girardot,  though  of  French  parentai^e,  was 
born  at  London.  .His  father  was  a  native  of  Geneva^ 

po,  .on  of  h,s  We  must  have  been  passed  in  London,  where 
.0  carried  on  an  extensive  business  in  the  Levant  trade,  and 

Of  tLI   n"  T^'-'^r'  ""'•'  "^'''^^  ^  «--  "^e 
Of  these.  Dr.  Andree,  of  Hatton  Gardens,  was  apparently 

khe  only  one  who  preserved  what  is  said  to  have  been  "^ 

tarher  method  of  spelling  the  family  name. 

rat^lvkEllf  T  •!"  "=^*'"'«^''™"'  of  "  port  of  the  Andre 
raraily  m  England,  ,ts  connections  upon  the  continent  would 
hppear  to  have  been  the  most  numerous  and  the  most  pe  . 
hanent.  Indee  ,  the  name  is  not  an  uncommon  one,  and 
fbe  btographical  dictionaries  supply  a  numerous  li  t  "f 
persons  bearmg  it,  and  distinguished  in  various  Ii„e„  Of 
ourse  It  .8  impossible  to  trace  any  relationship  between  the 
.ajonty  of  these  and  the  subject  of  this  memoir.     D™  „„ 


q 
lit 

(3 


m-  11 


m  i 


ill" 


!l 


ill!  i 


2  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 

her  sojourn  at  Naples,  not  long  after  Major  Andre's  death, 
Mrs.  Piozzi  relates  that  she  became  acquainted  with  "the 
Swedish  minister,  Monsieur  Andre,  uncle  to  the  lamented 
officer  who  perished  in  our  sovereign's  service  in  America : " 
but  the  only  result  of  recent  inquiries,  set  on  foot  in  Sweden 
and  carried  as  far  as  the  isle  of  Gottland,  in  the  Baltic,  is  to 
discredit  her  assertion.  There  exist,  indeed,  in  that  kingdom, 
the  families  of  Andre  and  Andree,  which  have  given  to  the 
state  men  of  high  official  rank;  yet  there  is  no  reason  to 
suppose  that  Major  Andre  was  of  the  same  blood.  Turning 
to  Germany,  however,  we  are  more  successful.  Branches 
of  the  stock  from  which  he  sprung  have  long  been  seated 
at  Frankfort-on-the-Maine  and  at  Offenbach ;  some  of  the 
members  of  which  are  very  well  known  to  the  world  as 
publishers  and  editors  of  numerous  musical  works,  and  es- 
pecially of  =  Mozart's.  The  most  celebrated  of  these  was 
Johann  Andre,  author  of  the  opera  of  The  Potter,  who  was 
born  at  Offenbach  in  1741,  and  who  died  in  1799.- 

Though  as  yet  opportunity  is  wanting  to  verify  the  suppo- 
sition, there  is  strong  reason  to  believe  that  a  near  connec- 
tion existed  between  the  immediate  family  of  Major  Andrd 
and  the  once  celebrated  Nicholas  St.  Andre  of  Southampton  ; 
—  a  character  whose  career  is  scarcely  to  be  paralleled  even 
in  the  pages  of  Gil  Bias.  This  person  came  over  to  England, 
from  his  native  Switzerland,  at  a  very  early  age,  and,  prolv 
ably,  towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century.  By  his 
own  account,  his  origin  was  perfectly  respectable,  and  even 
distinguished  ;  and  in  his  later  days  he  would  assert  that  by 
right  he  was  possessed  of  a  title.  Yet  he  arrived  in  Eng- 
land in  the  train  of  a  Jewish  family,  and,  it  is  said,  in  a 
menial  position.  He  was  related  to  a  famous  dancing-mas- 
ter of  the  same  name  who  is  mentioned  in  Dryden's  Mac 
Flecknoe,  published  in  1 682 : 

"  St.  Andre's  feet  ne'er  kept  more  equal  time;  " 

and  was  himself  originally  destined  for  a  fencing  or  ii  danc- 


!  M 


NICHOLAS  ST.  ANDBlfi.  3 

ing  masler.  His  knowledge  of  tl,e  Frenc*  ton.r„e  extended 
.0  all  .he  pvovincial  dialects,  and  it  is  conjoet„redTat  he 
was  for  a  t,me,  a  teaeher  of  that  lan..ua»e.  his  sister  / 
tan  y  followed  this  occupation  at  a  ae^r^ir  Z" 
ItiU  being  early  placed  with  a  surgeon  he  ranidiv  „  -1 
..eh  a  considerable,  though  perhaps  rp^XiXowel^Hn 
that  scenee,  that  he  soon  rose  to  a  conspicuou   polu  on  and 

To  an  mv,„c,ble  assurance  he  united  such  a  variety  of  ac 
comphshments  that  we  need  not  wonder  at  his  rece  lin"  Z 

t;^.ular,y  eU  noli^lt^- —-    ^Zt 
723  1,1      "ri"'  '^  «"""'"  ™^  --""""S  remarkab  e      I 

rorth  wifhT  '    '^^/'-^bbit-breeder  of  Godalming,  came 

poiin  with  her  wonderful  taU    «f     a    i  '  ° 

kadiest  of  her  believers      Til        r      f '  ''"'  "'"""«  the 
.e     r,„,,-/-  --tp:^^^^^^^ 

t  -  «  rabbi....     .^be  learner^n- L,:  1" ^^yTo:;^ 


s 

la 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


In     ( 


III     !i 


believed  in  the  fable,  but  wrote  a  pamphlet  to  prove,  in  its 
occurrence,  the  fulfilment  of  a  prophecy  in  Esdras.  In 
short,  as  Lord  Onslow  wrote  to  the  great  naturalist,  Sir 
Hans  Sloane,  (Dec.  4,  1726,)  all  England  was  disturbed  by 
this  story.  But  Queen  Caroline  having  charged  Dr.  Ches- 
elden  to  investigate  the  matter,  the  imposture  was  speedily 
exposed,  and  they  whose  countenance  had  given  it  all  Us 
weight  were  now  visited  with  a  full  measure  of  public  oppro- 
brium. Swift,  and  perhaps  Arbuthnot,  had  already  taken  up 
the  pen  against  St.  Andre,  and  now  Hogarth  seized  on  him. 
In  the  print  of  Mary  Tofts,  he  is  introduced ;  and  in  another 
entitled  The  Wise  Men  of  Godliman,  the  figure  marked  A 
is  designed  for  the  court  anatomist.  Again,  in  the  print  of 
The  Doctors  in  Labor,  he  figures  as  a  merry-andrew ;  and 
by  a  host  of  coarse  caricatures  and  doggerel  ballads  his  weak- 
ness was  stigmatized  an,d  made  yet  more  ridiculous.  In  De- 
cember, 1726,  the  affair  was  burlesqued  upon  the  stage,  —  a 
new  rabbit-scene  being  added  to  the  play  of  The  Necroman- 
cer  ;  and  in  1727,  the  ballad  of  St.  Andre's  Miscarriage  was 
sung  through  the  streets : 

"  He  dissected,  compared,  and  dlstinguish'd  likewise. 
The  make  of  these  rabbits,  their  growth  and  their  size; 
He  preserv'd  them  in  spirits  and  — a  little  too  late, 
Preserv'd  (  Vertue  sculpsit)  a  neat  copperplate." 

The  consequence  was,  that  on  his  return  to  Court  he  was  so 
coldly  treated  that  he  would  never  reappear;  nor,  though 
continuing  to  hold  his  appointment  till  his  death,  would  he 
touch  the°official  salary.     A  more  amusing  circumstance  was 
his  testiness  for  the  future  upon  the  subject  of  rabbits  ;  absol 
lutely  forbidding  any  allusion,  even  to  their  name,  being  evcrl 
again  made  in  his  presence. 
°0n  the  27th  of  May,  1730,  St.  Andre   married   Ladyl 
Betty  Molyneux,  the  childless  widow  of  Samuel  Molyneux,! 
M.  P.,  who  brought  him,  it  was  said,  £30,000.     The  lady's 
conduct  was  so  imprudent  that  she  was  forthwith  dismissed 
by  the  Queen  from  her  service.     Mr.  Molyneux  was  but  re-f 


NICHOLAS  ST.  ANDR^.  5 

cently  dead,  and  whispers  named  her  as  his  murderer:  nor 
thd  her  second  husband  escape  a  share  of  the  imputation. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Madden,  of  Dublin,  however,  having  made 
use  of  this  scandal  in  a  pamphlet,  St.  Andre  at  once  prose- 
cuted him  successfully  for  defamation.     But  the  accusation 
has  been  immortalized  by  Pope,  in  the  second  dialogue  of 
he  Epilogue  to  his  Satires,  where  "the  poisoning  dame"  is 
brought  mto  discussion.     St.  Andre  had  once  the  good  for- 
tune  to  attend  the  poet  when  he  was  upset  in  Lord  Bolin- 
broke  s  coach  as  it  returned  from  Dawley.     His  fingers  were 
I  mcurably  wounded,  and  this  being  the  nearest  surgeon,  was 
called  in.*     About  1755,  he  took  up  his  permanent  abode  at 

with  Lady  Betty  passed  on  her  death  to  Sir  Capel  Moly- 
neux;  and  St  Andre's  expensive  tastes  dissipated  much  of 
what  remained.  Architecture  was  one  of  his  hobbies;  and 
large  sums  were  squandered  on  a  house  at  Chepstow.  About 
a  mile's  distance  from  Southampton,  he  erected  a  thoroughly 
inconvenient  dwelling,  which  he  called  Belle-Vue,  and  boalted 

Ut  as  constructed  "on  the  true  principles  of  anatly'     He 
had,  however,  another  dwelling  within  the  town,  with  a  large 
and  valuable  library;  and  here  he  died  in  M.rch    1776 
being  then  upwards  of  ninety-six  years  of  a-e 

St.  Andre  is  represented  as  having  beenbose  in  religion 
md  m  morals;  of  a  vivacious  and  agreeable  manner  in  ^on- 
.ersation  ;  his  speech  abounding  in  foreign  idioms;  his  coun- 

tenanco  fierce  and  muscular.     In  earlier  life  his  manners 

lust  have  been  polite  and  graceful,  from  the  social  positLn 

o  which  he  rose  ;  but  Nichols,  who  wrote  of  him  after  d  ath 

Ud  who  characterizes  him  as  "a  profligate  man  of  an  amo-' 

ra,no,.  Voltaire,  on  occasion       tlfe  de    e^^^^^^^  ^"-''  "- 

tecuiiiarv  dishonesty     THp  P.rl  ,V.   *^^^«"'»n  «f  the  latter  in  a  piece  of 

y  St.  A^dre,  ^vhrfeld  ^n.  t?M  tr    hi,' Vo'.f'""^"?  '^'  ^^  "-  P--"- 
fouse,  but  from  the  kingdon'f!!';^:;;!;:';^^^  -'^  ^-n  the 


j^>  •  s 


3 


'  11 


i    it 


(  !'! 


':■ 


I 


I'J 


iiii 


!  I  111' 


! 


Ill 


6 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDKi;;. 


rous  constitution,"  declares  that  "  no  man  will  be  hardy  enongli 
to  assert  that  the  figure,  manners,  and  language  of  St.  Andre 
were  those  of  a  gentleman." 

Such  was  the  character  with  whom,  as  has  already  been 
observed,  John  Andre  was  probably  nearly  allied  by  blood 
as  well  as  by  name ;  though  why  the  latter  was  altered  to 
Andre  or  Andree,  we  do  not  know.  It  is  not  likely  that  any 
of  the  lineage  now  reside  in  England.  About  1820  or  1825, 
when  a  young  French  gentleman,  M.  Ernest  Andre,  came 
over  from  Paris  on  a  visit  to  the  surviving  sisters  of  Major 
Andre,  he  was  declared  by  those  ladies  to  be  their  nearest 
living  relative. 

Where  John  Andre  was  born,  cannot  with  certainty  be 
stated.  It  may  have  occurred  at  London,  where  his  father, 
after  the  fashion  of  those  days,  had  long  had  his  dwelling  and 
his  place  of  business  under  one  roof,  in  Warnford  Court, 
Throgmorton  Street.  Or  it  may  have  been  at  Southampton, 
since  in  1780  we  find  his  mother,  then  a  widow  and  chiefly 
residing  with  her  brother,  Mr.  Girardot,  in  Old  Broad  Street, 
London,  yet  still  possessing  a  house  there.  We  are  able  to 
fix  the  date  of  his  birth  with  more  accuracy ;  although,  even 
on  this  head,  the  contemporaneous  accounts  are  conflicting: 
one  pointing  to  the  year  1749,  and  another  to  1752  ;  Avhile 
llose  puts  it  at  London,  in  1750.  But  the  monumental  inscrip- 
tion in  Westminster  Abbey  that  says  "  he  fell  a  sacrifice  to 
his  zeal  for  his  king  and  country,  on  the  2d  of  October,  1780, 
aged  twenty-nine,"  and  which  is  followed  by  Lord  Mahon,  is 
borne  out  by  a  letter  of  Andre's  own,  written  in  October, 
1769,  in  which  he  speaks  of  himself  as  "a  poor  novice  of 
eighteen."  Hence  we  may  fairly  ascribe  the  period  of  his 
birth  to  the  year  1751. 

The  very  little  that  is  known  respecting  Andre's  earlier 
years,  renders  it  proper  to  be  particular  in  presenting  to  the 
reader  such  details,  naked  though  they  be,  as  can  now  be  I 
laid  hold  of;  and  even  these  do  not  always  agree,  as  they 
come  to  us  from  his  contemporaries.     One  story  gives  West- 


EARLY  LFFli.  j 

minster  as  tlie  scene  of  his  education,  and  with  a  particular, 
ity  that  brings  to  mind  the  circumstantial  evidence  of  Sheri- 
dan's  double-letter  scene,  even  fixes  the  date  "nea^  the  latter 
end  of  Dr.  Markham's  time,  now  Archbishop  of  York  "     I„ 
this  case,  he  might  have  had  for  school-mates  Thomas  and 
Charles   Cotesworth  Pinckney,  so  renowned  afterwards  in 
the  serv.ce  of  their  country  in  the  war  that  cost  Andre  his 
hfe;  while  for  a  master  he  would  have  had  a  man  whom 
Gibbon  distinguished,  among   the  whole  bench  of  En-^lish 
bishops  for  eminent  scholarship  and  skill  in  the  instruction 
of  youth.     This  was  the  prelate,  too,  whose  feelings  towards 
insurgent  America  are  thus  alluded  to  by  Lord  John  Towns- 
heiid  : 

"  To  Cramner's  stake  be  Adams  ty'd  ; 
Mild  aiarklmm  preaching  by  his  side 

The  traitor's  heart  ivill  gain : 
For  if  he  sees  the  blaze  expire, 
Locke's  works  he  '11  fling  to  wake  the  fire, 
And  put  him  out  of  fain." 

[Another  account,  however,  says  that  he  was  first  placed  at 
Hackney  under  a  Mr.  Newcombe ;  whence  he  was  after  a 
time  withdrawn,  and  sent  for  several  years  to  Geneva  to  com- 
plete his  education.  It  may  be  that  both  of  these  stories  are 
correct ;  that  from  Hackney  he  went  to  St.  Paul's,  and  thence 
to  Geneva:  but  wherever  he  was  taught,  his  acquirements 
were  such  as  to  reflect  honor  alike  on^the  teacher  and  the 
pup.l.     He  was  master  of  many  things  that  in  those  days 

hmd  which,  indeed,  even  m  these  are  to  be  found  rather  in 
exceptions  than  the  rule.  The  modern  European  languages 
-.  I.  ,ench  German,  Italian,  &c.-are  said  to  have  be^en 
possessed  by  him  in  singular  perfection;  while  in  music 
painting,  drawing,  and  dancing,  he  particularly  excelled' 
When  we  consider  that  with  these  accomplishments  m^s 
Ijomed  a  nature  always   ambitious  of  distinction,  a   mind 

orvi:r\  r  f"  '"^^  °' ''--  ^^^^-^"^  -^--^  -t 

only  nith  a  taste  for  poetry,  but  with  considerable  readiness  in 


I 

to 


8 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDR£. 


(    i. 


111!  Ill 


ita  composition  ;  and  a  person  which,  though  slender,  was  re- 
markably active  and  graceful,  we  need  not  wonder  that  his 
attractions  were  such  as  to  win  the  favor  of  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  At  the  university  of  Geneva,  he  was 
remarked  for  a  diligent  student,  and  for  an  active  and  in- 
quiring mind;  and  in  especial  was  distinguished  by  his 
proficiency  in  the  schools  of  mathematics  and  of  military 
drawings.  To  his  skill  in  this  last  branch,  his  subsequent 
rapid  advancement  in  the  army  was  in  great  pai't  attrib- 
utable. 

Andre's  father  was  a  respectable  merchant,  whose  success 
had  been  sufficiently  great  to  convince  him  that  his  own  pro- 
fession was  the  very  best  his  son  could  embrace  ;  yet  not  suf- 
ficient to  enable  him  to  give  that  son  a  fortune  which  would  I 
permit  him  to  follow  the  bent  of  his  own  inclinations.    In 
this  relation,  it  would  seem  as  though  the  old  gentleman  had 
pursued  very  much  the  same  course  as  that  adopted  by  the 
elder  Osbaldistone,  in  Rob  Roy ;  and  to  a  certain  extent  the  | 
consequences  were  alike.     Summoned  home  from  the  conti- 
nent, young  Andr^  found  a  place  assigned  him  in  his  father's  I 
counting-house,  where  for  some  time  he  appears  to  have! 
undergone  that  training  which  it  was  hoped  and  expected! 
would  enable  him  to  carry  on  successfully  the  business  thatj 
had  already  afforded  a  competency  to  its  founder.     For,  inl 
the  process  of  time,  his  father  had  found  himself  in  conditionj 
to  withdraw  from  at  least  the  more  laborious  cares  of  his  at-[ 
fairs,  and,  abandoning  the  residence  in  Throgmorton  Street, 
had  removed  his  household  to  a  country-seat  at  Clapton, 
called  The  Manor  House.     This  building,  now  used  for  nl 
school,  is  still  standing  opposite  to  Brook  House,  Claptoiil 
Gate ;  and  the  graves  of  several  of  its  former  occupants  arc! 
to  be  seen  in  Hackney  churchyard,  hard  by  the  old  tower. 

Although  at  this  stage  in  his  career  there  is  no  evidence| 
that  John  Andre's  conduct  was  that  of 

"A  clerk  condemned  his  father's  soul  to  cross, 
Who  penned  a  stanza  when  he  should  engross;" 


IH  i! 

I  I 


EARLY  LIFt  g 

Yet  we  may  fairly  infer,  from  his  own  lar. ,.ua^e  llmt  thp  .nn. 

nerc  al  line  of  life  chalked  out  for  him  was  le  1    o    I  Zo" 
limn  the  profession  of  arms ;  that,  like  younc.  Frank  Osb!, 
Une,    n  preference  to  any  other  active  pu.u      L  wouM 
Loose  the  army ;  and  that  the  desk  and  stooi  "  by  a  smaU  etl- 
em  a  gloomy  compting-house  in  Warnford  Cour^'' wol 

ave  been  joyfully  exchanged  for  the  sash  and  gorge    and 
hy  barrack.yard  in  the  United  ICingdom.     The  benfof  Ms 

pbere  m  which  he  was  best  calculated  to  attain  success 
t  his  years  were  too  few,  to  enable  him  to   oppose   1^* 
ther  s  wishes  ;  and  in  1767  or  17G8,  when  about  s'^  en  o 
^venteen  years  of  age,  he  entered  the  countin.-hou  e     No 
at  e  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  at°tle  louse 
apton,  in  April,  1769,  make  at  the  time  any  materia   dif- 
rence  m  the  nature  of  his  avocations. 
1  What  family  was  left  by  the  elder  Andre  can  only  be 

fc  ^'^  '''  '"'  ''^'  ^"  '''''  '^-•^-  ^-  widow,  there 
1  remamed  a,  second  son,  William  Lewis,  who  was  d^ht 

en  f  r  ^     r/;  '"'^  '^""'-     ^^''  ^^''  ^'  ««'J  to  have 
en  distinguished  for  a  poetical  talent.     In  her  Monodv 

^nd  on  his  departure  for  America : 

"Dimcloudsof  AVoe!  ye  veil  each  sprightly  grace 

Tliat  us'd  to  sparkle  in  Mauia's  face 

My  tuneful  Anna  to  her  lute  complains, 

But  Gnef '8  fond  throbs  an-cst  the  parting  strains. 

Fair  as  the  silver  blossom  on  the  thorn, 

Soft  as  the  spirit  of  the  vernal  morn, 

Louisa,  chase  those  trembling  fears,  that  prove 

Th'  ungovem'd  terror's  of  a  sister's  love ; 

They  bend  thy  sweet  head,  like  yon  lucid  flow'r 

T  lat  shnnks  and  fades  beneath  the  summer's  show'r. 

Oh !  smile,  my  sisters,  on  this  destin'd  day 

And  with  the  radiant  omen  gild  my  way ! '' 

these  sisters,  Louisa  Catherine  was  born  about  1754  and 
h  lUnnaU  about  1752,  according  to  the  inscripttnst 

4& 


I 

I? 


10 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDIit. 


ill 


the  churchyard  nt  Bath-IIampton,  where  they  are  burled  ;  — 
the  h\st  of  these  two  dates  going  far  to  fix  that  of  Major 
Andr<5's  birth  as  of  1751. 

In  1780  also  there  were  yet  living  at  London  two  brothers 
of  the  elder  Andre  :  Mr.  David  Andr(5  of  New  Broad  Street, 
and  Mr.  John  Lewis  Andrt),  of  Warnford  Court,  Throgmorton 
Street ;  who  were  known  to  the  community  as  respectable 
Turkey  merchants,  and  who  doubtless  still  carried  on  at  the 
old  place  the  business  in  which  their  brother  had  prospered 
well,  but  which  their  nephews  had  declined.  For  it  was  not  l 
John  alone  who  renounced  the  ledger  for  the  spontoon.  Not 
very  long  after  he  entered  the  army  he  was  followed  by  his 
only  brother,  whose  years  forbid  the  supposition  that  he  could 
ever  have  had  any  prolonged  experience  in  the  mysteries  of 
trade. 

During  some  months  after  his  father's  death,  John  Andre  | 
was  probably  sufficiently  occupied  with  new  and  urgent  cares, 
to  prevent  his  taking  any  active  step  towards  freeing  himself  I 
from  the  chains  of  business.     From  circumstances  we  may 
conclude  that  the  summer  of  1769  —  the  year  in  which  hcl 
became  the  head  of  his  mother's  house  —  was  passed  by  tliel 
family  at  Buxton,  Matlock,  and  other  places  in  the  interiorj 
of  England,  whither  it  was  customary  for  invalids,  and  per- 
sons whose  health  was  impaired  by  affliction,  to  resort  for  re-l 
lief  and  change  of  scene :  and  if  it  was  not  now  that  he  first! 
became  acquainted  with  Miss  Seward,  it  is  at  least  almostj 
certain  that  he  formed  with  another  lady  a  friendship  thatj 
left  its  coloring  on  the  whole  of  his  future  life. 

Anna  Seward,  the  eulogist  of  Major  Andre,  was  bom  aJ 
Eyam,  in  Derbyshire,  in  1747.  The  bishop's  palace  ail 
Lichfield,  in  which  her  father  —  who  was  a  canon  of  tliM 
cathedral  there  —  resided,  was  the  head-quarters  of  the  litJ 
erary  world  of  that  region,  and  of  the  better  classes  of  societj| 
generally  ;  and  we  are  told,  by  one  well  fitted  to  judge,  tha 
at  this  period  Miss  Seward,  by  grace  and  beauty  of  persoj 
and  by  conversational  skill,  was  amply  qualified  to  maintaij 


MISS  SE\VAIU>. 


11 


Ihe  „,,n,etio„s  of  ,l,o  l,o„,,c.     Sl.o  was  bcide.  of  „„  en.hu.i- 
|...e,  no.  ,„  ™y  ™„,„,uic  disposition,  „„a  not  a  li..,„  ;.  , 
o  tl  0  pcrpctmtton  of,.  «„,  „f  pootry,  "  ,„o,t  of  wl.ici,  "Tyl 

cxeciTiblc.  Wuh  man^  virtues  she  np,,e„rs  to  have  no^^ 
sensed  a  certain  spieo  of  that  self-conceit  which  re  ul,  from 
an  exaggerated  opinion  of  one',  own  capacity   a'd  iVZ 

t.c  aUuston   that  savors  rather  of  personal  than  of  literary 

fe:z::^rnTf-df  ?""r"  ^""^^ """  "--'f  - » - 

cehng  than  of  dehcate  and  tender  friendship  seems  ever  to 
.ave  subststed.  .u,d  the  lines  in  which  she  bewailed  1,1  „n" 

Stgr  '*""^ '"' ''""'-  -^-^^»  «n-- 

etcrred  to  ri,e  httle  circle  that  was  accustomed  to  pav  its 
Lomage  to  M.ss  Seward  and  to  receive  her  smiles  and  Sscs 
m  re  turn  ,f  not  a  constellation  of  the  first  magnitudnm 
pnseda  least  many  names  which  in  those  days  occupied  a 
respectable  rank  n  the  republic  of  lett«v,  p  "<-^"P'eu  a 
ihpm  »,o=  n_  rv  ."'^Fuuneot  letters.  Foremost  among 
hem  was  Dr.  Darwin,  the  author  of  The  Botanic  Garden 
but,  unless  we  except  the  lines  —  uaiucn, 

"Soon  bWI  tliy  am,  unconqucroa  steam,  afar 
Uiag  the  slow  barge,  or  drive  llie  rapid  car," 

toter  known  to  this  generation  by  Canning's  sarcastic  par- 

o»n.  Then  fdlow  Hayley,  the  author  of  the  Triumphs  of 
rcmper;  Sir  Brooke  Boothby;  Richard  Lovell  Edgewortl,  • 
U.  eccentric  Thomas  D.ay,  whose  story  of  Sandfoid  a  d 
Mer^n  for  a  time  rivalled  even  Robinson  Crusoe  in  pop. 
ur,  ty ;  and  others,  either  residents  of  Lichfield  or  sojour'  fs 
0  had  been  attracted  thither  by  "  its  good  report."    Thu 

emote  from  London  to  be  beyond  many  of  the  terrors  of  its 
superior  autltoiity,  the  cathedral  critics  of  Lichfield  liv  d  and 


19 


IJFK  OF  MAJOR  ANDUl^;. 


wroto,  and  praistnl  ench  other  for  ppront  ftiithor-*,  anil  were  wo 
may  supposo  as  happy  as  this  heliof  could  inaku  them. 

A  traveUer  iti  Knghuul,  shortly  after  Major  Andre's  death, 
relates  that  being  in  1782  at  Ila^^ley,  tlie  seat  of  P2arl  Fer- 
rers and  the  scene  of  many  of  the  younger  Lyttleton's  ex- 
traordinary exploits,  he  was  assured  by  his  lordship's  brother- 
in-law,  Mr.  Green,  of  Portugal  House,  Birmingham,  that  at 
the  very  mansion  thay  were  then  in  he  had  introduced  the 
unfortunate  Major  Andre  to  Miss  Seward,  afterwards  so  well 
known  for  her  genius,  her  connection  with  Andre,  and  her 
sorrows.  We  may  presume  that  liiis  introduction  occurred 
in  the  pummer  of  17G9. 

At  this  time  the  family  of  Mr.  Thomas  Seward  comprised 
not  only  his  wife  and  his  daughter  Anna,  but  also  a  young 
lady,  IMiss  Ilonora  Sneyd,  a  daughter  of  Edward,  the  young- 
est son  of  Kalpli  Sneyd,  Esq.,  of  Bishton,  in  Staffordshire. 
Mrs.  Sneyd  dying  at  an  early  period,  the  daughters  were 
kindly  taken  in  charge  by  her  friends  and  kindred,  and  the 
care  of  Ilonora  fell  to  the  faithful  hands  of  Mrs.  Seward. 
As  nearer  her  own  age,  a  greater  intimacy  than  with  Anna 
naturally  grew  up  between  the  orphan  and  Miss  Sally  Sew- 1 
ai'd,  a  young(;r  sister  ;  but  she  dying  when  Ilonora  was  thir- 
teen, the  latter  was  left  to  the  immediate  companionship  of 
the  elder  daughter,  from  whom  she  derived  much  of  her 
literary  taste.  In  all  respects,  we  are  told.  Miss  Sneyd  was  I 
treated  as  one  of  Mrs.  Seward's  family,  and  it  was  impossible 
to  perceive  that  any  discrimination  was  made  by  the  motherl 
between  her  own  and  her  adopted  child. 

"  It  was  at  Buxton  or  at  Matlock,"  says  Mr.  Edgeworth ' 
"  that  Andre  first  met  Honora  Sneyd."  Matlock  Bath,  about! 
two  miles  from  the  straggling  little  village  of  Matlock  inl 
Derbyshire,  was  a  favorite  watering-place,  where  a  pleasantj 
freedom  of  social  intercourse  is  said  to  have  then  prevailed] 
People  coming  together  for  the  first  time,  and  passing  weeks! 
in  the  same  house,  were  content  to  regard  each  other  ail 
acquaintances   and  to  have  their   enjoyments   in    commonj 


COUUTSIIII'. 


13 


TIk!   spot    itself    is    singularly   picturesque,   lyin-r  on    tl.o 
fuh  of  tl.o  JMassou  Hill,  to  whose  sumuiit  a  patirwas  con- 
tnvcd  throuj,'li  groves  of  lir-tree.s.     On  every  hand,  the  eye 
rests  upon   the  lofty  Tors,  or  hills  of  the  region  ;  and  the 
Lovers   Walk,  !,y  the  river  Derwent,  was  doubtless  then  as 
.t  IS  now  chosen  for  many  a  happy  stroll.     Buxton  too  was 
celebrated  for  its  medicinal  wells,  and  was  also  in  the  Peak 
of  iJerbyshire.     Mr.   Seward    had   a  living   in    the   Peak 
whither  iti  his  summer  visits   he  was  accomi)anied    by  his 
daughter,  and  probably  by  others  of  his  household, —at  all 
events,  it  was  at  Buxton  that  the  two  families,  from  Lichfield 
and  from  Claj)ton,  were  together  in  the  summer  of  17G9,  and 
it  was  there  that  the  young  merchant  of  Warnford  Court  be- 
came so  irretrievably  enamored  of  a  lady  whose  charms  seem 
by  all  accounts  to  have  been  sutHcient  to  subdue  less  suseep- 
tible  hearts  than  his  own.     A  me^zotinto  engraving  after 
Komney,  which  was  esteemed  by  her  friends  as  the  perfect 
though  unintentional   resemblance   of  Ilonora  Sneyd  at  a 
period  "  when  she  was  surrounded  by  all  her  virgin  glorie^ 
—  beauty  and  grace,  sensibility  and  goodness,  superior  in-' 
tell.gence   and   unswerving  truth,"  — conveys   an    idea   of 
cliarms   that  would  justify   the  description  of  her   at    this 
period  by  the  man  who  should  best  be  entitled  to  pronounce 
a  verdict.     "  Her  memory,"  said  her  future  husband,  ''  was 
not  copiously  stored  with  poetry;  and,  though  in  no  way  de- 
hcient,  her  knowledge  had  not  been  much  enlarged  by  books  • 
hut  her  sentiments  were  on  all  subjects  so  just,  and  were  de- 
livered with  such  blushing  modesty,  — though  not  without 
anairof  conscious  worth,— as  to  command  attention  from 
every  one  capable  of  appreciating  female  excellence.     Her 
person  was  graceful,  her  features  beautiful,  and  their  expres- 
sion  such  as  to  heighten  the  eloquence  of  everything  she 
Isaid."    Blue  eyes  and  golden  hair  were  the  inheritance  of 
Ithe  family ;    but  in   her  face   there   would  seem   to   have 
leven   now   been  visible  some  hectic  trait— some  negative 
jpymbol  of  that  latent  disorder,  which  at  fifteen  years  had 


\i 


14 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDE^. 


!  li 


'iiiii! 
III  ill ! 


Ill 


iiiiii  iiiiii 


i  ii 


iiiii!|    !i;iii 


threatened  her  life,  and  by  which  it  was  finally  to  be  con- 
cluded. 

Such  being  Honora's  graces,  it  is  no  wonder  that  Andr^  was  j 
as  heartily  and  as  quickly  impressed  by  them  as  many  others 
were  doomed  to  be ;  nor  is  it  strange  that  he  should  speedily 
have  avrakened  a  corresponding  sentiment  in  the  fair  one's 
breast.     It  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  features  of  his  char- 
acter, that  —  unlike  many  who  are  the  life  and  idol  of  every 
circle  but  their  own,  and  are  charming  everywhere  but  at 
home  —  Andre  was  even  more  prized  by  his  nearest  fam- 
iliars than  by  the  world  without.     The  better  he  was  known, 
the  better  he  was  loved ;  and  the  endearing  appellation  of 
cher  Jean,  which  was  constantly  bestowed  upon  him  by  his 
family,  soon  found  a  place  on  the  lips  of  his  fi'iends.     A I 
glance  at  his  portrait  will  go  far  to  explain  this  secret  of 
inspiring  attachment.     His  features,  as  delicate  in  their  lines] 
and  expression  as  those  of  a  woman,  at  once  reveal  a  tender- 
ness and  a  vivacity  that  could  scarcely  belong  to  a  disposi- 
tion not  originally  possessed  of  a  very  considerable  degree  I 
of  natural  refinement.     To  what  extent  these  characteristics  j 
were  developed  and  increased  by  cultivation  will  in  timej 
appear. 

It  does  not  seem  that  the  lovers  at  Buxton  were  long  ini 
coming  to  an  understanding.  Miss  Seward,  both  then  and! 
afterwards,  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  affair  and  looked  willil 
the  fullest  favor  on  the  suitor.  An  opportunity  was  sooni 
afforded  for  him  to  make  his  earliest  essay  at  painting  tliol 
likeness  of  a  human  face,  and  two  miniatures  of  Miss  Sneydl 
were  the  first  fruits  of  his  pencil.  One  of  these  —  appar-j 
ently  the  least  perfect  —  he  gave  at  the  time  to  Miss  Sewardl 
who  retained  it  through  her  life :  the  other  was,  of  course! 
reserved  by  the  artist  for  his  own  consolation,  although  tliel 
favorable  reception  which  his  addresses  had  received  on  all 
hands  must  have  given  him  abundant  reason  to  hope  for  tlij 
ultimate  possession  of  the  beautiful  original.  It  was  not  unJ 
til  they  had  reflected  on  the  youth  of  both  parties  in  respecj 


COURTSHIP. 


15 


to  wedlock,  and  the  absence  of  present  means  to  enable  them 
to  be  provided  with  such  a  maintenance  as  they  had  each 
been  brought  up  to  anticipate,  that  the  seniors  looked  coldly 
on  the  affair.     And  even  then,  the  most  that  was  agreed 
upon  by  Mrs.  Andre  and  Mr.  Sneyd,  was  that  since  an  im- 
mediate marriage  was  out  of  the  question,  and  a  long  en- 
gagement between  two  very  young  people,  separated °by  a 
distance  of  a  hundred  miles  and  more,  was  not  desirable,  it 
was  wiser  that  they  should  be  kept  apart  as  much  as  possible, 
trusting  that  time  would  either  wean  them  from  their  attach- 
ment, or  bring  the  means  of  gratifying  it.     On  these  terras 
the  parting  took  place;  but  it  will  be  seen  that,  as  might 
have  been  expected  under  such  circumstances,  one  if  not 
both  of  tne  lovers  regarded  it  as  anything  but  final.    It  even 
seems,  from  the  first  of  the  letters  presently  to  be  given,  that 
Andre  accompanied  Miss  Seward  and  Miss  Sneyd  on  their 
return  to  Lichfield;  and  hy  letters  and  by  personal  inter- 
views, an  intercourse  was  kept  up  between  them  for  some 
months  longer. 

It  was  during  the  progress  of  his  courtship  at  Buxton,  that 
Andre  made  known  to  his  Lichfield  friends  his  aversion  to 
commerce,  and  probably  his  desire  for  the  army.  The  rep- 
i-esentations  of  Miss  Seward  that  it  was  so  much  ibr  his 
interest  in  every  way  to  adhere  steadily  to  his  present  em- 
ployment, and  above  all  that  it  was  the  only  means  by  which 
I  he  could  procure  the  wealth  necessary  to  secure  his  union 
with  Miss  Sneyd,  prevailed  upon  him  for  a  season  to  stick  to 
I  the  desk.  «  When  an  impertinent  consciousness,"  he  says, 
j"  whispers  in  my  ear,  that  I  am  not  of  the  right  stuff  for  a 
merchant,  I  draw  my  Honora's  picture  from  my  bosom,  and 
the  sight  of  that  dear  talisman  so  inspirits  my  industry,  that 
no  toil  appears  oppressive."  The  reader  may  compare  with 
some  interest  this  confession  with  the  sentiments,  uttered  at 
the  same  period,  of  another  young  occupant  of  a  stool  in  a 
counting-house,  whose  career  was  destined  to  cross  Andre's 
in  the  most  interesting  period  of  his  life.     "I  contemn," 


16 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDKl-. 


11 


wrote  Alexander  Hamilton,  in  17G9,  "  the  grovelling  condi- 
tion of  a  desk,  to  which  my  fortune  condemns  me,  and  would 
willingly  risk  my  life,  though  not  my  character,  to  exalt  my 
station  ;  I  mean  to  prepare  the  way  for  futurity." 

Before  Andre  parted  from  "  the  dear  Lichfieldians,"  to 
return  to  Clapton  and  his  daily  avocations  in  Throgmorton  | 
Street,  a  correspondence  appears  to  have  been  arranged  be- 
tween Miss  Seward  and  himself,  the  burden  of  which,  as  | 
may  well  be  guessed,  was  to  be  Honora.     His  epistles,  which 
sometimes  covered  letters  to  Miss  Sneyd,  were  evidently  de- 
signed to  pass  from  the  hands  of  his  fair  correspondent  to 
those  of  her  adopted  sister ;  while  in  return  he  should  re- 
ceive every  intelligence  of  the  young  lady's  movements  and 
welfare,  and  occasionally  a  postscript  from  her  own  pen. 
There  was   nothing  clandestine  in  this  arrangement,  little 
indeed  as  it  may  have  accorded  with  the  plans  of  the  parents 
of  the  lovers.     Miss  Sneyd's  conduct  throughout,  seems  toj 
have  been  ingenuous  and  discreet ;  while  Andre  availed  him- 
self of  a  fair  and  friendly  means  of  obtaining  that  informa- 
tion which  was  naturally  so  desirable  to  one  in  his  position.  I 
His  letters  were  often  adorned  with  hasty  pen  or  pencil 
sketches  of  such  objects  of  interest  as  were  germain  to  the 
text,  and  the  specimens  which  follow  give  ample  proof,  38 
Miss  Seward  justly  observes,  of  his  wit  and  vivacity.     "  His  I 
epistolary  writings,"  says  Mr.  Sparks,  "  so  far  as  specimens 
of  them  have  been  preserved,  show  a  delicacy  of  sentiment,! 
a  playfulness  of  imagination,  and  an  ease  of  style,  whicbj 
could  proceed  only  from  native  refinement  and  a  high  degree  I 
of  culture."    "  The  best  means,  next  to  biography  written  byl 
the  person  himself,  of  obtaining  an  insight  into  his  character,! 
is  afforded,"  remarks  Maria  Edgeworth,  " by  his  private  letj 
ters."     There  is  sufficient  excuse  in  their  own  contents  fori 
here  presenting  those  of  Andre  to  Miss  Seward ;  but  thcl 
reason  suggested  by  Miss  Edgeworth  affords  an  additional! 
motive.     It  will  be  observed  that  he  addresses  the  lady  nsl 
his  Julia ;  for  no  other  cause  that  can  be  guessed  at  but  thatj 


I    iV: 


LETTERS  TO  mSS   SEWAKD. 


17 


her  real  name  was  Anna.  But  such  tricks  of  the  pen  were 
then  counted  among  the  delicacies  of  a  sentimental  corre- 
spondence ;  as  is  pleasantly  described  in  VAmie  Inconnue. 

The  journey  to  Shrewsbury,  alluded  to  below,  was  made 
to  visit  Elizabeth,  Mr.  Sneyd's  fifth  daughter,  who  had  been 
brought  up  by  and  resided  with  her  relatives,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henry  Powys  of  the  Abbey.  The  letters  themselves  were 
first  printed  in  connection  with  Miss  Seward's  Monody  upon 
their  writer. 

MR.   ANDRE   TO   MISS    SEWARD. 

CLArroN,  Oct.  3, 1769. 

From  their  agreeable  excursion  to  Shrewsbury,  my  dear- 
est friends  are  by  this  time  returned  to  their  beloved  Lich- 
field. Once  again  have  they  beheld  those  fortunate  spires, 
the  constant  witnesses  of  all  their  pains  and  pleasures.  I 
can  well  conceive  the  emotions  of  joy  which  their  first  ap- 
pearance, from  the  neighboring  hills,  excites  after  absence ; 
they  seem  to  welcome  you  home,  and  invite  you  to  reiterate 
those  hours  of  happiness,  of  which  they  are  a  species  of 
monument.  I  shall  have  an  eternal  love  and  reverence  for 
them.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  joy  that  danced  in  Honora's 
eyes,  when  she  first  shewed  them  to  me  from  Need  wood  For-* 
est,  on  our  return  with  you  from  Buxton  to  Lichfield.  I  re- 
member she  called  them  the  ladies  of  the  valley,  —  their  light- 
ness and  elegance  deserve  the  title.  Oh !  how  I  loved  them 
from  that  instant !  My  enthusiasm  concerning  them  is  carried 
farther  even  than  your's  and  Honora's,  for  every  object  that 
has  a  pyramidical  form,  recalls  them  to  my  recollection,  with 
a  sensation  that  brings  the  tear  of  pleasure  into  my  eyes. 

How  happy  you  must  have  been  at  Shrewsbury!  only 
that  you  tell  me,  alas !  that  dear  Honora  was  not  so  well  as 
you  wished  during  your  stay  there.  —  I  always  hope  the  best. 
My  impatient  spirit  rejects  every  obtruding  idea,  which  I 
have  not  fortitude  to  support.  — -  Dr.  Darwin's  skill,  and  your 


18 


LIFE  OF  MAJOS  ANimt. 


tender  care,  will  remove  that  sad  pain  in  her  side,  which 
makes  writing  troublesome  and  injurious  to  her ;  which  robs 
her  poor  Cher  Jean  of  those  precious  pages,  with  which,  he 
flatters  himself,  she  would  otherwise  have  indulged  him. 

So  your  happiness  at  Shrewsbury  scorned  to  be  indebted 
to  public  amusements?  Five  Virgins  —  united  in  the  soft 
bonds  of  friendship !  How  I  should  have  liked  to  have  made 
the  sixth  !  —  But  you  surprise  me  by  such  an  absolute  exclu- 
sion of  the  Beaux :  —  I  certainly  thought  that  when  five 
wise  virgins  were  watching  at  midnight  it  must  have  been  in 
expectation  of  the  bridegroom's  coming. 

"We  are  at  this  instant  five  virgins,  writing  round  the  same 
table  —  my  three  sisters,  Mr.  Ewer,  and  myself.  I  beg  no 
reflections  injurious  to  the  honor  of  poor  Cher  Jean.  My 
mother  is  gone  to  pay  a  visit,  and  has  left  us  in  possession 
of  the  old  coach  ;  but  as  for  nags,  we  can  boast  of  only  two 
long-tails,  and  my  sisters  say  they  are  sorry  cattle,  being  no 
other  than  my  friend  Ewer  and  myself,  who,  to  say  truth, 
have  enormous  pig-tails. 

My  dear  Boissier  is  come  to  town ;  he  has  brought  a  little 
of  the  soldier  with  him,  but  he  is  the  same  honest,  warm,  in- 
telligent friend  I  always  found  him.  He  sacrifices  the  town 
diversions,  since  I  will  not  partake  of  them. 
•  We  are  jealous  of  your  correspondents,  who  are  so  nu- 
merous.—  Yet,  write  to  the  Andres  often,  my  dear  Julia, 
for  who  are  they  that  will  value  your  letters  quite  so  much 
as  we  value  them  ?  —  The  least  scrap  of  a  letter  will  be 
received  with  the  greatest  joy ;  write,  therefore,  tho'  it  were 
only  to  give  us  the  comfort  of  having  a  piece  of  paper 
which  has  recently  passed  thro'  your  hands ;  —  Honora  will 
put  in  a  little  postscript,  were  it  only  to  tell  me  that  she 
is  mi/  very  sincere  friend,  who  will  neither  give  me  love 
nor  comfort  —  very  short  indeed,  Honora,  was  thy  last  post- 
script !  —  But  I  am  too  presumptuous ;  —  I  will  not  scratch 
out,  but  I  imsay  —  from  the  little  there  was  I  received  i 
more  joy  than  I  deserve.  —  This  Cher  Jean  is  an  imper- 


LETTERS  TO  MISS  SEWARD. 


19 


tinent  fellow,  but  he  will  grow  discreet  in  time;  — you 
must  consider  him  as  a  poor  novice  of  eighteen,  who  for  all 
the  sins  he  may  commit  is  sufficiently  punished  in  the  single 
evil  of  being  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  Lichfield. 

My  mother  and  sisters  will  go  to  Putney  in  a  fii\M  days  to 
stay  some  time;  — we  none  of  us  like  Clapton:  —  /  need 
not  care,  for  I  am  all  day  long  in  town  ;  but  it  is  avoiding 
Scylla  to  fall  into  Charybdis.  You  paint  to  me  the  pleasant 
vale  of  Stow  in  the  richest  autumnal  coloring.  In  return,  I 
must  tell  you  that  my  zephyrs  are  wafted  through  cracks  'in 
the  wainscot;  for  murmuring  streams,  I  have  dirty  kennels; 
for  bleating  flocks,  grunting  pigs ;  and  squalling  cats  for  birds 
that  incessantly  warble.  I  have  said  something  of  this  sort 
in  my  letter  to  Miss  Spearman,  and  am  twinged  with  the 
idea  of  these  letters  being  confronted,  and  that  I  shall  recall 
to  your  memory  the  fiit  Knight's  love-letters  to  Mrs.  Ford 
and  Mrs.  Page. 

Julia,  perhaps  thou  fanciest  I  am  merry.  Alas !  But  I 
do  not  wish  to  make  you  as  doleful  as  myself;  and  besides, 
when  I  would  express  the  tender  feelings  of  my  soul,  I  have 
no  language  which  does  them  any  justice;  if  I  had,  I  should 
regret  that  you  could  not  have  it  fresher,  and  that  whatever 
one  communicates  by  letter  must  go  such  a  roundabout  way, 
before  it  reaches  one's  correspondent :  from  the  writer's  heart 
through  his  head,  arm,  hand,  pen,  ink,  paper,  over  many  a 
weary  hill  and  dale,  to  the  eye,  head,  and  heart  of  the  reader. 
I  have  often  regretted  our  not  possessing  a  sort  of  faculty 
which  should  enable  our  sensations,  remarks,  &c.,  to  arise 
from  their  source  in  a  sort  of  exhalation,  and  fall  upon  our 
paper  in  words  and  phrases  properly  adapted  to  express 
them,  without  passing  through  an  imagination  whose  opera- 
tions so  often  fail  to  second  those  of  the  heart.  Then  what 
a  metamorphose  we  should  see  in  people's  style !  How  elo- 
quent  those  who  are  truly  attached !  how  stupid  they  who 
falsely  profess  affection  !  Perhaps  the  former  had  never  been 
able  to  express  half  their  regard  ;  while  the  latter,  by  their 


20 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


I  '1  i 


llii!ll  lilllli 

iii 


III! 


flowers  of  rhetoric,  had  made  us  believe  a  thousand  times 
more  than  they  ever  felt  —  but  this  is  whimsical  moralizing. 

My  sisters'  Penserosos  were  dispersed  on  their  arrival  in 
town,  by  the  joy  of  seeing  Louisa  and  their  dear  little 
Brother  Billy  again,  our  kind  and  excellent  Uncle  Girardot, 
and  Uncle  Lewis  Andre.  I  was  glad  to  see  them,  but  they 
complained,  not  without  reason,  of  the  gloom  upon  my  coun- 
tenance. Billy  wept  for  joy  that  we  were  returned,  while 
poor  Cher  Jean  was  ready  to  weep  for  sorrow.  Louisa  is 
grown  still  handsomer  since  we  left  her.  Our  sisters  Mary 
and  Anne,  knowing  your  partiality  to  beauty,  are  afraid  that 
when  they  shall  introduce  her  to  you,  she  will  put  their  noses 
out  of  joint.  Billy  is  not  old  enough  for  me  to  be  afraid  of 
in  the  rival-way,  else  I  should  keep  him  aloof,  for  his  heart 
is  formed  of  those  affectionate  materials,  so  dear  to  the  ingen- 
uous taste  of  Julia  and  her  Honora. 

I  sympathize  in  your  resentment  against  the  canonical 
Dons,  who  stumpify  the  heads  of  those  good  green  people, 
beneath  whose  friendly  shade  so  many  of  your  happiest 
hours  have  glided  away,  —  but  they  defy  them ;  let  them 
stumpify  as  much  as  they  please,  time  will  repair  the  mis- 
chief, —  their  verdant  arms  will  again  extend,  and  invite  you 
to  their  shelter. 

The  evenings  grow  long.  I  hope  your  conversation  round 
the  fire  will  sometimes  fall  on  the  Andres ;  it  will  be  a  great 
comfort  to  them  that  they  are  remembered.  We  chink  our 
glasses  to  your  healths  at  every  meal.  "  Here's  to  our 
Lichfieldian  friends,"  says  Nanny;  —  "Oh-h,"  says  Mary; 

—  "  With  all  my  soul,"  say  I ;  —  "  Aliens,"  cries  my  mother ; 

—  and  the  draught  seems  nectar.  The  libation  made,  we 
begin  our  uncloying  themes,  and  so  beguile  the  gloomy 
evening. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seward  will  accept  my  most  affectionate 
respects.  My  male  friend  at  Lichfield  will  join  in  your 
conversation  on  the  Andres.  Among  thd  numerous  good 
qualities  he  is  possessed  of,  he  certainly  has  gratitude,  and 


then  he  cann 
him.  I,  in  p 
happy  hours 
for  him,  and  i 
clous  ointmen 
rounds  you,  t 
to  the  whole 
and  ardor  of 
tionate  and  fa 

Mr.  Peter 
tor  Ewer,  Jr. 
said,  of  Willi 
of  England,) 
were  valued 
raembered  in 


From  the 
ments  of  gair 
converse  with 
fervent  wish  t 
begin,  as  pe 
profession  wi 
disadvantageo 
a  middle-aged 
colored  clothe 
ceive  a  comeh 
a  pen  with  all 
ough  brandish 
with  types  an 
I  disembogue  tl 
upon  bales  of 
per ;  while,  in 


•  xi  -ft 


LETTERS  TO  MISS  SEWARD. 


21 


then  lie  cannot  forget  those  who  so  sincerely  love  and  esteem 
him.  I,  in  particular,  shall  always  recall  with  pleasure  the 
liappy  hours  I  have  passed  in  his  company.  My  friendship 
for  him,  and  for  your  family,  has  diffused  itself,  like  the  pre- 
cious ointment  from  Aaron's  beard,  on  every  thing  which  sur- 
rounds you,  therefore  I  beg  that  you  would  give  my  amities 
to  the  whole  town.  Persuade  Honora  to  forgive  the  length 
and  ardor  of  the  enclosed,  and  believe  me  truly  your  affec- 
tionate and  faithful  friend,  J.  Andr6. 

Mr.  Peter  Boissier,  of  the  11th  Dragoons,  and  Mr.  Wal- 
ter Ewer,  Jr.,  of  Dyer's  Court,  Aldermanbury,  (a  son,  it  is 
said,  of  William  Ewer,  Esq.,  in  1778  a  director  of  the  Bank 
of  England,)  who  are  mentioned  in  the  preceding  letter, 
were  valued  friends  of  Andre's,  and  are  affectionately  re- 
membered in  his  will. 


MR.   ANDRE   TO   MISS    SEWARD. 

London,  Oct.  19, 1769. 
From  the  midst  of  books,  papers,  bills,  and  other  imple- 
ments of  gain,  let  me  lift  up  my  drowsy  head  awhile  to 
converse  with  dear  Julia.  And  first,  as  I  know  she  has  a 
fervent  wish  to  see  me  a  quill-driver,  I  must  tell  her,  that  I 
begin,  as  people  are  wont  to  do,  to  look  upon  my  future 
profession  with  great  partiality.  I  no  longer  see  it  in  so 
disadvantageous  a  light.  Instead  of  figuring  a  merchant  as 
a  middle-aged  man,  with  a  bob-wig,  a  rough  beard,  in  snuff- 
colored  clothes,  grasping  a  guinea  in  his  red  hand,  I  con- 
ceive a  comely  young  man,  with  a  tolerable  pig-tail,  wielding 
a  pen  with  all  the  noble  fierceness  of  the  Duke  of  Marlbor- 
ough brandishing  a  truncheon  upon  a  sign-post,  surrounded 
with  types  and  emblems,  and  canopied  with  cornucopias  that 
I  disembogue  their  stores  upon  his  head ;  Mercuries  reclined 
upon  bales  of  goods ;  Genii  playing  with  pens,  ink,  and  pa- 
per ;  while,  in  perspective,  his  gorgeous  vessels,  "  launched  on 


,.il 


22 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl*:. 


!'  '':w 


the  bosom  of  the  silver  Tlmmes,"  are  wafting  to  distant  lands 
the  produce  of  this  commercial  nation.  Thus  all  the  mercan- 
tile glories  croud  on  my  fancy,  emblazoned  in  the  most  reful- 
gent colouring  of  an  ardent  imagination.  Borne  on  her  soar- 
ing pinions  I  wing  my  flight  to  the  time  Avhen  Heaven  shall 
have  crowned  my  labors  with  success  and  opulence.  I  see 
sumptuous  palaces  rising  to  receive  me  ;  I  see  orphans  and 
widows,  and  painters,  and  fiddlei's,  and  poets,  and  builders, 
protected  and  encouraged ;  and  when  the  fabric  is  pretty 
nearly  finished  by  my  shattered  pericranium,  I  cast  my  eyes 
around,  and  find  John  Andre,  by  a  small  coal-fire,  in  a 
gloomy  CO' ipting-house  in  Warnford  Court,  nothing  so  little 
as  what  I  has  been  making  himself,  and,  in  all  probability, 
never  to  be  much  more  than  he  is  at  present.  But  oh  :  my 
dear  Honora!  —  it  is  for  thy  sake  only  I  wish  for  wealth. — 
,You  say  she  was  somewhat  better  at  the  time  you  wrote  last. 
I  must  flatter  myself  that  she  will  soon  be  without  any  re 
mains  of  this  threatening  disease. 

It  is  seven  o'clock :  you  and  Honora,  with  two  or  three 
more  select  friends,  are  now  probably  encircling  your  dress- 
ing-room fireplace.  What  would  I  not  give  to  enlarge  that 
circle !  The  idea  of  a  clean  hearth,  and  a  snug  circle  round 
it,  formed  by  a  few  select  friends,  transports  me.  You  seem 
combined  together  against  the  inclemency  of  the  weather, 
the  hurry,  bustle,  ceremony,  censoriousness,  and  envy  of  the 
world.  The  purity,  the  warmth,  the  kindly  influence  of  fire 
—  to  all  for  whom  it  is  kindled  —  is  a  good  emblem  of  the 
friendship  of  such  amiable  minds  as  Julia's  and  her  Honora's. 
Since  I  cannot  be  there  in  reality,  pray  imagine  me  with 
you  ;  admit  me  to  your  conversoiiones,  —  think  how  I  wish  I 
for  the  blessing  of  joining  them !  and  be  persuaded  that  I 
take  part  in  all  your  pleasures,  in  the  dear  hope,  that  ere 
very  long,  your  blazing  hearth  will  burn  again  for  me.  Pray 
keep  me  a  place ;  —  let  the  poker,  tongs,  or  shovel,  repre-  [ 
sent  me.  But  you  have  Dutch  tiles,  which  are  infinitely! 
better;  so  let  Moses,  or  Aaron,  or  Balaam's  ass  be  my| 
representative. 


LETTERS  TO  5HSS  SEWARD. 


23 


But  time  calls  me  to  Clapton.  I  quit  you  abruptly  till 
lo-morrow,  when,  if  .1  do  not  tear  the  nonsense  I  have  been 
writing,  I  may  perhaps  increase  its  quantity.  Signora  Cyn- 
thia is  in  clouded  majesty.  Silvered  with  her  beams,  I  am 
ubout  to  jog  to  Clapton  upon  my  own  stumps;  musin^  as  I 
homeward  plod  my  way  —  ah !  need  I  name  the  subject  of 
my  contemplations  ? 

ITiursdaif, 
I  had  a  sweet  walk  home  last  night,  and  found  the  Clap- 
tomans,  with  their  fair  guest,  a  Miss  Mourgue,  very  well. 
My  sisters  send  their  amities,  and  will  write  in  a  few  days. 

This  morning  I  returned  to  town.     It  has  been  the  finest 
dayimagmable;  a  solemn  mildness  was   Effused  throughout 
the  blue  horizon ;  its  light  was  clear  and  a     inct,  rather^than 
idazzhng;  — the  serene  beams  of  the  autumnal  sun,  gilded 
lulls,  variegated  woods,  glittering  spires,  ruminatin-  herds 
boundmg  flocks,  — all  combined  to  enchant  the  eyes,  expand 
the  heart,  and  «  chase  all  sorrow  but  despair."     In  the  midst 
of  such  a  scene,  no  lesser  sorrow  can  prevent  our  sympathy 
with  nature.     A  calmness,  a  benevolent  disposition  seizes  us 
with  sweet  insinuating  power;  the  very  brute  creation  seem 
sensible  of  these  beauties ;  there  is  a  species  of  mild  chear- 
fulness  in  the  face  of  a  lamb,  which  I  have  but  indiflferently 
expressed  in  a  corner  of  my  paper,  and  a  demure,  contented 
look  m  an  ox,  which,  in  the  fear  of  expressing  still  worse,  I 
I  leave  unattempted. 

Business  calls  me  away.  I  must  dispatch  my  letter.  Yet 
Iwhat  does  it  contain  ?  —  No  matter.  You  like  anything  bet- 
Iter  than  news;  — indeed,  you  never  told  me  so,  but  I  have 
fcn  mtuitive  knowledge  upon  the  subject,  from  the  sympathy 
^vhich  I  have  constantly  perceived  in  the  taste  of  Julia  and 
\:ker  Jean.     What  is  it  to  you  or  me  — 

If  here  in  the  city  we  have  nothing  but  riot, 
If  the  Spital-field  Weavers  can't  be  kept  quiet; 
If  the  weather  is  fine,  or  tlie  streets  should  be  dirty 
Or  if  Mr.  Dick  Wilson  died  aged  of  thirty  ?  ' 


I  'f:. 


i  illilil 


'l!!ii!:' 


'i!;| 


84 


LIFE  OV  MAJOll  ANDIlt. 


—  But  if  I  was  to  hearken  to  the  versifying  grumbling  I  feel 
within  me,  I  should  fill  my  paper,  antl  not  have  room  left 
to  entreat  that  you  would  plead  my  cause  to  Honora  more 
eloquently  than  the  enclosed  letter  has  the  power  of  doing. 
Apropos  of  verses,  you  desire  me  to  recollect  my  random  de- 
scription of  the  engaging  appearance  of  the  charming  Mrs. 
.     Here  it  is  at  your  service  :  — 

Then  rustling  and  bustling  the  lady  comes  down, 
With  a  flaming  red  face,  and  a  broad  yellow  gown, 
And  a  hobbling  out-of-breath  gait,  and  a  frown. 

This  little  French  cousin  of  ours,  Delarise,  was  ray  sister  I 
Mary's  playfellow  at  Paris.     His  sprightliness  engages  my 
sisters  extremely.     Doubtless  they  tell  much  of  him  to  you| 

in  their  letters. 

How  sorry  I  am  to  bid  you  adieu  !  Oh,  let  me  not  be  fo^| 
got  by  the  friends  most  dear  to  you  at  Lichfield !  —  Lich- 
field!  Ah,  of  what  magic  letters  is  that  little  word  composed'.! 
How  graceful  it  looks  when  it  is  written !  Let  nobody  talk 
to  me  of  its  original  meaning,  "the  field  of  blood!"  Oh, 
no  such  thing !  —  It  is  the  field  of  joy  !  "  The  beautiful  city 
that  lifts  her  fair  head  in  the  valley,  and  says,  I  am,  and 
there  is  none  beside  me!"  Who  says  she  is  vain?  Julia 
will  not  say  so,  nor  yet  Honora,  and  least  of  all  their  de- 
voted Jo"N  Andr£. 

In  reference  to  the  allusion  in  the  last  paragraph  of  thiil 
letter,  Miss  Seward  very  learnedly  explained,  that  Lichfieldl 
does  not  signify  "the  field  of  blood,"  but  "the  field  of  deal 
bodies."  The  error  is  of  little  importance.  Between  thef 
dates  of  this  and  the  next  epistle,  he  had  visited  Lichfield 
and  once  again  beheld  the  face  of  his  lady-love. 

MR.   ANDR^   TO    MISS    SEWARD. 

Clapton,  November  1, 1769. 
My  ears  still  ring  with  the  sounds  of  "  Oh,  Jack !  01^ 


LETTEHS  TO  MISS  SEWAKD. 


25 


Jack  !  IIow  do  the  dear  Lichfieldians  ?  What  do  they  say  ? 
What  are  they  about?   What  did  you  do  while  you  were 

with  them  ?  "     "  Have  patience,"  said  I,  "  good  people  !  " 

and  began  my  story,  which  they  devoured  with  as  much  joy- 
ful avidity  m  Adam  did  Gabriel's  tidings  of  Heaven.  My 
mother  and  sisters  are  all  very  well,  and  delighted  with  their 
little  Frenchman,  who  is  a  very  agreeable  lad. 

Surely  you  applaud  the  fortitude  with  which  I  left  you  I 
Did  I  not  come  off  with  flying  colors  ?    It  was  a  great  effort ; 
for,  alas  !  this  recreant  heart  did  not  second  the  smiling  cour- 
age of  the  countenance  ;  nor  is  it  yet  as  it  ought  to  be,  from 
the  hopes  it  may  reasonably  entertain  of  seeing  you  all  again 
ere  the  winter's  dreary  hours  are  past.    Julia,  my  dear  Julia, 
I  gild  them  with  tidings  of  my  beloved  Ilonora  !     Oh  that  you 
may  be  enabled  to  tell  me  that  she  regains  her  health,  and 
her  charming  vivacity !     Your  sympathizing  heart  partakes 
I  all  the  joys  and  pains  of  your  friends.     Never  can  I  forget 
its  kind  offices,  which  were  of  such  moment  to  my  peace. 
Mine  is  formed  for  friendship,  and  I  am  blessed  in  being  able 
to  place  so  well  the  purest  passion  of  an  ingenuous  mind. 
IIow  am  I  honoured  in  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seward's  attachment  to 
me !     Charming  were  the  anticipations  which  beguiled  the 
long  tracts  of  hill,  and  dale,  and  plain,  that  divide  London 
from  Lichfield!     With  what  delight  my  eager  eyes  drank 
jtheir  first  view  of  the  spires  !     What  rapture  didl  not  feel 
Ion  entering  your  gates!  — in  flying  up  the  hall-steps  !  — in 
jrushing  into  the  dining-room!  —  in  meeting  the  gladdened 
leyes  of  dear  Julia  and  her  enchanting  friend !     That  instant 
jconvinced  me  of  the  truth  of  Rousseau's  observation,  "  that 
|thcre  are  moments  worth  ages."     Shall  not  these  moments 
return  ?    Ah,  Julia !  the  cold  hand  of  absence  is  heavy  upon 
the  heart  of  your  poor  Cher  Jean  !  —  he  is  forced  to  hammer 
Into  it  perpetually  every  consoling  argument  that  the  magic 
kvand  of  Hope  can  conjure  up ;  viz.,  that  every  moment  of 
industrious  absence  advances  his  journey,  you  know  whither, 
may  sometimes  make  excursions  to  Lichfield,  and  bask  in 


21768S 


2G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl!:. 


Ii!i:^ 


the  liglit  of  my  Ilonora'd  eyes.  Sustain  me,  Hope  !  nothin;; 
on  my  part  shall  be  wanting  which  shall  induce  thee  io  fulfil 
thy  blossoming  promises. 

The  happy,  social  circle — Julia,  llonora,  Miss  S 

Miss  B n,  her  brother.  Miss  S e,  Mr.  R n,  &c. 

—  are  now,  perhaps,  enlivening  your  dressing-room,  the  dear 
blue  region,  as  llonora  calls  it,  with  the  sensible  observation, 
the  tasteful  criticism,  or  the  elegant  song ;  dreading  the  iron 
tongue  of  the  nine  o'clock  bell,  which  disperses  the  beings 
whom  friendship  and  kindred  virtues  had  drawn  together. 
My  imagination  attaches  itself  to  all,  even  the  inanimate 
objects  which  surround  Honora  and  her  Julia,  that  have  be- 
held their  graces  and  virtues  exjjand  and  ripen  ;  —  my  dear 
Ilonora's,  from  their  infant  bud. 

The  sleepy  Claptonian  train  are  gone  to  bed,  somewhat 
wearied  with  their  excursion  to  Enfield,  whither  they  have 
this  day  carried  their  favourite  little  Frenchman,  —  so  great  a 
favourite,  the  parting  was  quite  tragical.   I  walked  hither  from 
town,  as  usual,  to-night.     No  hour  of  the  twenty-four  is  so 
precious  to  me  as  that  devoted  to  this  solitary  wafk.     Oh,  my 
friend,  I  am  A\r  from  possessing  the  patient  frame  of  mind  I 
so  continually  invoke.     Why  is  Lichfield  an  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  from  me  ?     There  is  no  moderation  in  the  dis- 
tance.    Fifty  or  sixty  miles  had  been  a  great  deal  too  much ; 
but  then,  there  would  have  been  less  opposition  from  author- 
ity to  my  frequent  visits.     I  conjure  you,  supply  the  want  of 
these  blessings  by  frequent  letters.     I  must  not,  will  not,  ask 
them  of  Honora,  since  the  use  of  the  pen  is  forbid  to  her 
declining  health  ;  I  will  content  myself,  as  usual,  with  a  post- 
script from  her  in  your  epistles.     My  sisters  are  charmed 
with  the  packet  which  arrived  yesterday,  and  which  they 
will  answer  soon. 

As  yet  I  have  said  nothing  of  our  journey.  We  met  an 
entertaining  Irish  gentleman  at  Dunchurch,  and,  being  fel- 
low-sufferers in  cold  and  hunger,  joined  interests,  ordered 
four  horses,  and  stuffed  three  in  a  chaise.     It  is  not  to  you  I 


LETTEUS   TO  MISS  SEWAItD. 


27 


need  npologizc  for  talking  in  raptures  of  an  higler,  whom  we 
in.;t  on  the  roud.     IIi.s  cart  Imd  passed  us,  and  was  at  a  con- 
si(l('ral)Io  distance,  when,  looking  back,  he  perceived  that  our 
chaise  had  stopped,  and  that  the  driver  seemed  mending  some- 
thing.    He  ran  up  to  him,  and,  with  a  face  full  of  honest 
anxiety,  pity,  good-nature,  and  every  sweet  affection  under 
lieavcn,  asked   him  if  we  wanted   anything;   that  he   had 
plenty  of  nails,  ropes,  &c.  in  his  cart.     That  wretch  of  a 
j)Ostilion  made  no  other  reply  than,  «  We  want  nothing,  mas- 
ter."   From  the  same  impulse,  the  good  Irishman,  Mi-.  Till, 
and  myself  thrust  our  heads  instantly  out  of  the  chaise,  and 
tried  to  recompense  the  honest  creature  for  this  surly  reply 
by  every  kind  and  grateful  acknowledgment,  and  by  forcin- 
upon  him  a  little  pecuniary  tribute.     My  benevolence  will 
be  the  warmer  while  I  live,  for  the  treasured  remembrance 
of  this  higler's  countenance. 

I  know  you  will  interest  yourself  in  my  destiny.  I  have 
now  completely  subdued  my  aversion  to  the  profession  of  a 
merchant,  and  hope  in  time  to  acquire  an  inclination  for 
it.  Yet  God  forbid  I  should  ever  love  what  I  am  to  make 
I  the  object  of  my  attention!  — that  vile  trash,  which  I  care 
j  not  for,  but  only  as  it  may  be  the  fqture  means  of  procuring 
the  blessing  of  my  soul.  Thus  all  my  mercantile  calcula^ 
tions  go  to  the  tune  of  dear  Honora.  When  an  impertinent 
consciousness  whispers  in  my  ear,  that  I  am  not  of  the  right 
stuff  for  a  merchant,  I  draw  my  Ilonora's  picture  from  my 
bosom,  and  the  sight  of  that  dear  talisman  so  inspirits  ray 
industry,  that  no  toil  appears  oppressive. 

The  poetic  task  you  set  me  is  in  a  sad  method :  my  head 
land  heart  are  too  full  of  other  matters  to  be  engrossed  by  a 
|draggle-tail'd  wench  of  the  Heliconian  puddle. 

I  am  going  to  try  my  interest  in  parliament.  —  How  you 
jstare !  —  it  is  to  procure  a  frank.  Be  so  good  as  to  give  the 
lenclosed  to  Honora,  —  it  will  speak  to  her  ;  —  aud  do  you  say 
leverything  that  is  kind  for  me  to  every  other  distinguished 
jfnend  of  the  dressing-room  circle ;  encourage  them  in  their 


)  m 


I        «1! 


i 


28 


LIFE  OF  »UJOR  ANDR£. 


obliging  desire  of  scribbling  in  your  letters,  but  do  not  let! 
them  take  Honora's  corner  of  the  sheet. 

Adieu !  May  you  all  possess  that  cheerfulness  denied  tol 
youv  Cher  Jean.  I  fear  it  hurts  my  mother  to  see  my  musinJ 
moods ;  but  I  can  neither  help  nor  overcome  them.  Tiiel 
near  hopes  of  another  excursion  to  Lichfield  could  alone  dis| 
perse  every  gloomy  vapor  of  my  imagination. 

Again,  and  yet  again,  Adieu  !  J.  Andr^. 


NOTWITIIS 

[powerful  a  fr 
j  Seward,  Andr 
ithat  in  all  lov 
lloves,  and  the 
jliave  been  ver 
jcategory.  Se 
lust  necessar 
Which  permis 
tended,  must 
^ngs,  even  hac 
This  is  at  lea 
feanie  time  com 


ii'iifci 


s    ■;'. 


'ii'i 


CHAPTER  II. 

I  Failure  of  Andrd's  Courtship.  _  Richard  Lovell  Edgeworth.-Thoma« 
Day.  —  Marriage  and  Death  of  Miss  Sneyd. 

NoTAnxiiSTANDiNO  his  ardoi',  and  the  presence  of  so 
I  powerful  a  friend  at  court  as  he  must  have  had  in  Miss 
iSeward,  Andre's  suit  did  not  prosper.  There  is  a  saying, 
Ithat  in  all  love  affairs  there  are  two  parties  —  the  one  who 
lloves,  and  the  one  who  is  loved ;  and  it  does  not  seem  to 
Ihave  been  very  long  before  Miss  Sneyd  came  into  the  latter 
jcategory.  Separation,  and  consideration  of  the  delay  that 
lust  necessarily  attend  that  acquirement  of  fortune  upon 
l^vhich  permission  for  Andre  to  renew  his  addresses  de- 
pended, must  doubtless  have  done  much  to  cool  her  feel- 
Bngs,  even  had  they  originally  been  as  warm  as  his  own. 
This  is  at  least  the  view  taken  by  her  friend,  who  at  the 
feame  time  commemorates  the  fidelity  of  the  opposite  party: 

"  Now  Prudence,  in  her  cold  and  tlirifty  care, 
Frowu'd  on  the  maid,  and  bade  the  youth  despair; 
For  power  parental  sternly  saw,  and  strove 
To  tear  the  lily  bands  of  plighted  love ; 
Nor  strove  in  vain;  —  but,  while  the  fair  one's  sighs 
Disperse  like  April-storms  in  sunny  skies. 
The  firmer  lover,  with  unswerving  truth, 
To  his  first  passion  consecrates  his  youth." 

the  lady's  feelings,  in  short,  cooled  down  so  sufficiently,  that 
Ihere  soon  came  to  be  no  reason  why  she  should  not  ic- 
|eive  the  addresses  of  other  suitors.  In  1770,  Mr.  Richard 
.oyeU  Edgeworth  was  paying  a  Christmas  visit  to  Lichfield, 
Ind  thus  mentions  the  impression  he  received  of  the  state  of 
Iffairs  between  Andre  and  Miss  Sneyd :  it  being  then  about 
fighteen  months  since  their  first  meeting  at  Buxton,  and  but 


I 
11 


O 

tn 

3 

P4 


if 


1       i 


.'ii 


i 

1 

I 

i 

'    ■ 

30 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


Utile  over  a  year  from  the  date  of  the  letters  that  closed  the 
last  chapter :  — 

"Whilst  I  was  upon  this  visit,  Mr.  Andre,  afterwards j 
Major  Andre,  who  lost  his  life  so  unfortunately  in  Amer- 
ica, came  to  Lichfield The  first  time  I  saw  Major! 

Andre  at  the  palace,  I  did  not  perceive  from  his  manner, 
or  from  that  of  the  young  lady,  that  any  attachment  sub- 
sisted between  them.  On  the  contrary,  from  the  great  atten- 
tion which  Miss  Seward  paid  to  him,  and  from  the  constant! 
admiration  which  Mr.  Andre  bestowed  upon  her,  I  thought 
that,  though  there  was  a  considerable  disproportion  in  their 
ages,  there  might  exist  some  courtship  between  them.  Mis3 
Seward,  however,  undeceived  me.  I  never  met  Mr.  Andrei 
and  from  all  that  I  then  saw,  or  have  since  known, 


agam ; 


I  believe  that  Miss  Honora  Sneyd  was  never  much  disap-l 
pointed  by  the  conclusion  of  this  attachment.  Mr.  Andrei 
appeared  to  me  to  be  pleased  and  dazzled  by  the  lady.  Shej 
admired  and  estimated  highly  his  talents  ;  but  he  did  notj 
possess  the  reasoning  mind  which  she  required." 

Mr.  Edgeworth  had  undoubtedly  what  many  will  reckon  al 
good  opportunity  of  ascertaining  the   lady's   sentiments  onl 
this  subject ;  for  Honora  Sneyd  eventually  became  his  wife 
Whether,  however,  a  woman  always  lays  bare  the  secrets  of  herj 
youthful  breast  to  the  man  whom  she  marries,  even  thouglij 
he  possesses  "  a  reasoning  mind,"  is  another  question.    To  bej 
sure,  having  himself  entered  four  times  into  the  state  of  wedJ 
lock,  Mr.  Edgeworth  had  unusual  means  of  coming  to  a  conJ 
elusion  upon  this  point ;  but  it  may  well  be  doubted  whetheif 
a  more  than  common  impression  might  not  have  been  madej 
on  Miss  Sneyd's  heart  by  the  attractions  of  such  a  person  si 
her  disappointed  lover.     Even  while  acknowledging  the  exj 
pediency  of  the  course  prescribed  by  the  heads  of  both  famj 
ilies,  and  yielding  to  their  authority,  she  must  have  beenT 
sensible  of  the  value  of  the  qualities  she  was  compelled 
forego.     From  Mr.  Edgeworth's  own  words  it  may  be  i 
ferred,  that  at  this  period  she  had  formed  a  high,  not  to  sayi 


RICHARD  LOVELL  EDGE  WORTH.  31 

romantic  estimate  of  what  was  to  be  looked  for  in  the  man 
whom  she  should  wed.    When  he  left  her  in  1771,  with  a  view 
of  going  abroad,  he  says :  «  In  various  incidental  conversations 
I  endeavored  to  convince  her,  that  young  women  who  had 
not  large  fortunes  should  not  disdain  to  marry,  even  though 
the  romantic  notions  of  finding  heroes,  or  prodi-ies  of  men 
might  not  be  entirely  gratified.     Honora  listened,  and  as- 
sented."     These    remarks  of  Mr.   Edgeworth   concerning 
plajor  Andre  are  entitled  to  considerable  weight;  not  alone 
because  of  the  well-known  character  for  probity  and  discern- 
ment of  the  writer  and  of  his  more  distinguished  daughter 
by  whom  the  Memoirs  were  completed  and  edited,  but  alsJ 
from  the  fact  that  they  were  given  to  the  world  while  yet  a 
sister  of  Andre  was  living  and  in  England:  from  whom,  or 
rather  from  whose  circle  of  friends,  any  misstatement  on  this 
Ihead  might  have  met  a  ready  correction.* 

Richard  Lovell  Edgeworth,  who  ultimately  became  Mi*s 
Sneyd's  successful  wooer,  is  happily  hit  off,  as  he  appeared  in 
1813,  by  Lord  Byron.     «I  thought  Edgeworth  a  fine  old 
•fellow,  of  a  clarety,  elderly,  red  complexion,  but  active,  brisk, 
and  endless.     He  was  seventy,  but  did  not  look  fifty —  no 
nor  forty-eight  even."     When  be  first  met  Honora,  however' 
he  was  but  of  twenty-five  or  twenty-six  years,  though  already 
h  man  of  some  note.     He  had  married  on  slender  means, 
Kvhile  his  father  yet  lived ;    and  had  married   unhappily. 
[  My  wife,  prudent,  domestic,  and  affectionate ;  but  she  was 
►lot  of  a  cheerful  temper.     She  lamented  about  trifles ;  and 
fhe  lamenting  of  a  female  with  whom  we  live  does  not  ren- 
per  home  delightful."     He  was,  too,  what  may  be  called  no- 
lional;  and,  charmed  with  the  theories  of  Rousseau,  must 
beeds  bring  up  his  son  after  the  manner  of  Emile,  with  bare 
leet  and  arms,  and  to  a  sturdy  independence.     While  this 
|:onnection  subsisted,  his  visits  to  his  friend  Mr.  Day  brought 

*  The  clear  handwriting  of  Maria  Edgeworth  across  the  title-pafre  of  a 


s 

a 


(^ 


*^ 


.  li 


f  I 


:  -r,  ■  11 


'"ililiillll 


32 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


1     I 


!  \  :  iilii 


'    '•  '•■  ■"lip 
I    ;!  ! 


i       I 


him  into  constant  intercourse  with  Miss  Sneyd ;  "  when," 
says  he,  —  "  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  saw  a  woman  that 
equalled  the  picture  of  perfection  which  existed  in  my  imag- 
ination. I  had  long  suffered  from  the  want  of  that  cheerful- 
ness in  a  wife,  without  which  marriage  could  not  be  agreeable 
to  a  man  of  such  a  temper  as  mine.  I  had  borne  this  evil,  I 
believe,  with  patience ;  but  my  not  being  happy  at  home  ex- 
posed me  to  the  danger  of  being  too  happy  elsewhere.  The  i 
charms  and  superior  character  of  Miss  Honora  Sneyd  made  | 
an  impression  on  my  mind,  such  as  I  had  never  felt  before." 
Other  gentlemen,  whom  he  names,  intimate  at  the  palace, 
were  unanimous  in  their  approbation  of  this  lady ;  all  but  | 
Mr.  Day. 

Thomas  Day,  the  eccentric,  benevolent,  unpractical  author  I 
of  Sandford  and  Merton,  (once  the  delight  of  all  the  school- 
boy-world,) was  now  residing  close  to  Lichfield.     Notwith- 
standing his  peculiar  views  respecting  the  sex,  he  could  not  I 
refrain  from  frequently  tempting  his  fate;   and  what  was 
more  extraordinary,  expected  that  with  a  person  neither 
formed  by  nature  nor  cultivated  by  art  to  please,  he  should 
win  some  woman,  wiser  than  the  rest  of  her  sex,  though  not! 
less  fair,  who  should  feel  for  him  the  most  romantic  and 
everlasting  attachment,  —  a  paragon,  who  for  him  would  for-| 
get  the  follies  and  vanities  of  her  kind ;  who 

Should  go  like  our  maidens  clad  in  grey, 
And  live  in  a  cottage  on  love. 

His  appearance  was  not  in  his  favor :  he  seldom  combed  his  I 
hair,  and  generally  set  aside,  as  beneath  the  dignity  of  manJ 
the  graces  of  fashionable  life.  He  was  tall,  round-shoulderedl 
and  pitted  with  the  small-pox ;  —  but  he  had  £1,200  a  yearl 
Large  white  arms,  long  petticoats,  and  a  robust  frame,  were! 
in  his  reckoning,  indispensable  qualifications  to  the  womanj 
he  could  love.  And  yet,  as  might  have  been  expected,  wj 
very  soon  find  him  addressing  Miss  Sneyd,  whom  he  had  all 
first  undervalued  for  her  accomplishments,  and  who  possessed! 


THOMAS  DAY. 


33 


Jill  the  suitable  degree  not  one  of  his  requirements.     He  hail 
Iprcviously  endeavored  to  supply  himself  with  a  mate  pre- 
Icisely  to  his  liking,  by  taking  two  orphans,  (from  a  Found- 
tting  Hospital,  I  believe,)  and  rearing  them  in  his  own  way 
khat  he  might  choose  one  for  his  wife  when  they  arrived  at 
Kvomanhood  ;  but  the  experiment  was  a  failure.     One  of  his 
Wards,  he  soon  ascertained,  would  not  suit  him ;  and  the  other 
by  a  somewhat  slower  process,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
.ould  not  suit  her.     Anticipating  the  ingenious  device  by 
irhich,  in  Canning's  Double  Arrangement,  an  En-lish  bar- 
b's love  of  liberty  and  of  beef  is  equally  expressed  in  the 
litle  of  one  of  the    characters,   he  had  endowed  this  girl 
brith  a  name  designed  to  compliment  at  once  the  river  Sev- 
ern and  the  memory  of  Algernon  Sidney.     Sabrina  Sidney 
In  time  learned  that  the  efforts  of  her  patron  to  give  her  self 
lomraand,  by  unexpectedly  discharging  pistols  close  to  her 
lar,  or  by  dropping  melted  sealing-wax  upon  her  bare  shoul- 
lers,  were  practices  little  calculated  to  ensure  her  domestic 
appmess  ;  and  she  sought  repose  in  the  arms  of  a  less  philo- 
bphical  bridegroom.     But  early  in  1771,  and  pendin-  this 
liscovery  by  the  fair  Sabrina,  Mr.  Day  resolved  to  wo^  and 
I'm  Miss  Sneyd.     Her  friends  afforded  him  every  facility  in 
lis  suit,  and  he  was  continually  at  her  side.     But,  notwith- 
landing  the  friendship  that  grew  up  between  them,  the  lady 
ton  arrived  at  a  conclusion  adverse  to  his  desires ;  and  when 
kwards  the  end  of  the  summer,  he  sent  her  by  the  hands  of 
Is  friendly  ambassador  a  voluminous  proposal  of  marriage 
[at  was  probably  overspread  with  terms  and  conditions,  she' 
[turned  him  a  hearty  denial.     She  said  that  she  would  not 
bdmit  the  unqualified  control  of  a  husband  over  all  her 
ftions;  she  did  not  feel  that  seclusion  from  society  was  in- 
kpensably  necessary  to  preserve  female  virtue,  or  to  secure 
kmestic  happiness.     Upon  terms  of  reasonable  equality,  she 
Ipposed  that  mutual  confidence  might  best  subsist;  she  said 
lat,as  Mr.  Day  had  decidedly  declared  his  determination 
live  m  perfect  seclusion  from  what  is  usually  called  tlic 


I      i 


it 


•     iJ 


II 


i  I 

i  ( 


84 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


;ili 


iilllHifcl,! 


world,  it  was  fit  she  should  as  decidedly  declare  she  would 
not  change  her  present  mode  of  life,  with  which  she  had  no  I 
reason  to  be  dissatisfied,  for  any  dark  and  untried  system 
that  could  be  proposed  to  her."  This  refusal  sent  poor  Mr. 
Day  to  bed,  to  be  bled  for  a  fever;  from  which,  in  a  space, 
'  he  came  forth  with  philosophic  equanimity,  to  seek  the  hand 
of  Miss  Elizabeth  Sneyd  as  ineffectually  as  he  had  sought 
her  sister's. 

To  return  to  Honora;  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  Mr. 

Day  was  blind  to  Mr.  Edgeworth's  admiration  of  this  lady, 

though  no  one  else  perceived  it ;  and  as  his  friend  was  all 

ready  a  married  man,  he  urged  his  removal  from  a  neighbor- 

hood  so  dangerous  to  his  peace  of  mind.    In  fact,  when  Mr,  I 

Day's  fate  was  decided,  the  partially  repressed  passion  of  hii 

envoy  returned  with  redoubled  violence,  and   he  found  it 

necessary  to  retire  to  the  continent.     But  the  death  of  his 

wife  and  his  father  left  him,  in  the  spring  of  1773,  free  to 

pursue  his  inclinations;    and  he  again  came  to  Lichfield 

Here  he  found  Miss  Sneyd,  happily  rid  of  a  disorder  that| 

had  threatened  the  destruction  of  her  sight,  and  more  beau-L 

tiful  than  ever ;  "  and  though  surrounded  by  lovers,  still  lierl 

own  mistress."     The  wooing  was  speedy  and  successful,  bull 

apparently  not  Avithout  interruption.     It  is  true  that  in  1771,1 

he  says  Miss  Seward  declared  her  friend  was  free  from  anjl 

engagement  or  attachment  incompatible  with  her  receivirj 

a  suitor's  addresses ;  but  the  little  slaps,  which  he  now  J 

then  bestows  upon  that  lady,  seem  to  point  her  out  as  notl 

altogether  favoring  the  current  of  his  love.     She  had  beeJ 

the  first,  he  asserts,  to  perceive  the  impression  Honora  hJ 

made  on  him,  several  years  before  ;  and  he  gives  her  crediil 

for  a  magnanimous  preference  of  her  friend's  praises  to  hetl 

own.     But  after  rather  ungallantly  referring  to  her  rivalijl 

with  Mrs.  Darwin  for  the  doctor's  hand,  he  lets  us  perceivel 

that  at  their  first  acquaintance  Miss  Seward,  ignorant  of  hiil 

being  already  provided  for,  was  not  herself  unwilling  to  makel 

an  impression  upon  his  heart.    And  when  he  comes  to  M 


MK.  F.DOEWORTH  AND  MISS  SEWAItD.  35 

couruliip  of  Us  second  wife,  he  once  or  twice  has  occasion  lo 
„o.,ce  ,e..  aga,„      For  whether  because  of  the  mpidity  with 
wiuch  the  funeral  baked  meats  were  succeeded  by  (he  mar 
nage  banquet,  or  because  she  still  cherished  a  hope  that  An- 
dre m,ght  yet  be  the  happy  man,  she  does  nof  appear  "„ 
have  greatly  encouraged  the  affair.    Mr.  Edgeworth  indeed, 
b  sides  h,s  .n.„ns,c  worth  and  a  respectable  positio;  amonJ 
the  landed  gentry,  possessed  advantage,  of  fortune  which 
I  Andre  could  not  lay  chtim  to;  but  Miss  Seward  was  enthj 
s,asl,c  m  her  d.sposition,  and  perhaps  looked  upon  her  friend 
[.n  Wamford  Court  as  capable  of  founding  i„  his  mercanWe 
PU..U.  8  a  house  as  illustrious  and  as  dignified  as  that  of  De 
la  Pole  of  the  third  Edwar^-,  ,eig„,  or  of  GreviUe,  "th^ 
flower  of  woolstaplers,"  in  the  days   of  James  I.,  eJch  of 
I  wh,ch  sprung  to  nobility  fro:n  successful  commerce  and  each 
of  wh,ch  has  allied  its  own  with  the  gr^a.  names  'of  ^e mn^ 
h,tory,  wth  Chaucer,  and  with  Sidney.    Nor  would  his 
entrance  mto   the  army  operate  against  this  idea.    In  the 
American  war,  the  leader  who  united  the  highest  social  and 
n«hta.y:unk-I,ord  Cornwallis- traced  the  first  start  to 
<l.gn.ty  of  his  house  to  a  city  merchant,  and  its  advent  to 
greatness  to  its  services  against  domestic  insurrection.    And 

Z  U  f  ~''"'™'  "'^^'  '"^-^''-g'  indefatigable- 
mus  have  been  expected  to  achieve  a  very  great  sufcess  in 
wlmtever  career  his  ambiUon  and  his   inclinations  united 

\Sl,  „ni  V,n  ^  »PP<»-'"»i'y  be  present  to  such  a  character, 
and  ,  wdl  httlo  matter  whether  he  be  bom  of  cloth  of  gold 
|or  cloth  of  frieze.    As  Spenser  has  it,  _  ^ 

"  In  brave  pursaitt  of  honourable  deed, 

Tbere  is  I  know  not  what  great  difference 
iietween  the  vulgar  and  the  noble  seed; 
Which  unto  things  of  valorous  pretence 
Seemes  to  be  borne  by  native  indoence." 

jliut  if  any  efforts  were  made  to  preserve  the  lady's  hand  for 
ker  new  suitor  believed  himself  lo  perceive  that  she  was 


r    .n 


Uj 


m 


36 


LIFE  OF  MAJOU  ANDKl!:. 


i  ■  i^.iii 


more  at  ease  with  himself  than  with  most  people ;  that  she 
felt  as  though  her  character  had  never  thitherto  been  fully 
appreciated ;  and  he  was  not  likely  now  to  spare  any  pains 
to  confirm  this  impression.  His  addresses  were  entirely  suc- 
cessful; and  on  the  17th  day  of  July,  1773,  by  special  li. 
cense,  Richard  Lovell  Edgeworth  and  Honora  Sneyd  were 
married  in  the  ladies'  choir  of  Lichfield  Cathedral,  Mr. 
Seward  performing  the  ceremony.  "  Miss  Seward,  notwith- 
standing  some  imaginary  cause  of  dissatisfaction  which  she 
felt  about  a  bridesmaid,"  says  Edgeworth,  "  was,  I  believe, 
really  glad  to  see  Honora  united  to  a  man  whom  she  had 
often  said  she  thought  peculiarly  suited  to  her  friend  in  taste 
and  disposition."  He  also  adds  that  the  marriage  "  was  with 
the  consent  of  her  father."  Miss  Seward  had  previously  told 
the  world  that  this  consent  was  bestowed  with  reluctance,  and  | 
published  her  regrets  that  Andre  had  not  been  the  groom.* 

Honora's  subsequent  life  seems  to  have  been  happy.    It  I 
was  partly  passed  in  Ireland,  partly  in  England.     Of  an  in- 
quisitive disposition,  she  was  pleased  in  bearing  a  share  in 
her  husband's  pursuit  of  knowledge,  and  by  the  clearness  off 
her  judgment  was  of  service  to  him  in  his  intellectual  avoca- 
tions;  "as  her  understanding  had  arrived  at  maturity  before i 
she  had  acquired  any  strong  prejudices  on  historical  subjects, 
she  derived  uncommon  benefit  from  books."     The  charge  of 
her  own  children  and  of  those  of  her  predecessor  occupied 
much  of  her  thoughts,  and  in  1778,  while  teaching  her  first- 
born to  read,  she  wrote,  in  conjunction  with  her  husband,  tliel 
First  Part  of  Harry  and  Lucy,  of  which  they  had  a  few  cop-l 

*  Miss  Seward  says  that  after  Mr.  Edgeworth  had  removed  Honora  fronif 
"the  Darwinian  sphere,"  and  Mr.  Day  had  offered  "his  philosophic  hand" 
to  lier  sister,  she  sent  him  to  France  to  learn  a  few  airs  and  graces,  llij 
returned,  however,  so  stilted  and  stiff  that  she  was  fain  to  confess  that olil 
Jectionable  to  her  fancy  as  had  been  Thomas  Day,  blackguard,  he  waJ 
preferable  to  Thomas  Day,  gentleman.  f 

From  the  similarity  of  name,  we  may  suppose  this  gentleman  was  relatedl 
to  the  parties  in  the  great  Huntingdonshire  case  of  Day  v.  Day,  (179I,i| 
a  case  in  which  R.  Sneyd,  Esq.,  of  Keel,  in  Staffordshire,  appears  as  i\ 
magistrate,  receiving  affidavits  for  the  plaintiff. 


can  case  anc 


i;  that  she 
)  been  fully 

any  pains 
ntirely  sue- 

special  li- 
5neyd  were 
edral,  Mr. 
•d,  notwith- 

which  she 

I  believe, 
m  she  had 
ind  in  taste 
"  was  witli 
piously  told 
ctance,  and  | 

groom.* 
happy.     It  I 

Of  an  in- 
a  share  in 
leamess  of 
ual  avoca-l 
rity  before 
d  subjects, 

charge  of 
r  occupied! 
:  her  first- 
isband,  thej 
a  few  cop-j 

Honora  froinl 
>piiic  hand"! 
graces.    n«| 
ifess  that  ob- 
ard,  he  wajj 

was  relatcdl 
Day,  (i:9;,)| 
ppears  as  i| 


DUITH  OF  JUS3  SNEVI).  gj 

ios  ,,riv,,,oly  printed  in  large  type  f„  the  use  of  their  el,i|. 
clren.    This  waa  probably  the  earliest  essay  towards  in  tiUin,! 

youthful  m  na.     Then-  idea  was  then  to  have  eorapleted  the 
work  and  U  was  for  them  that  Day  eon,n,eneed  his  Sanlford 
andMerton;  but  Mrs.  Edgeworth's  siekness  put  a  dose  to 
herhtei^ry  abors      Day  expanded  his  proposed  sli.  t    ,  e 
mio  a  delightful  book,  and  many  lon/years  ifter   M    • 
Edgeworth  induded  Harry  and  /uey  in  C  Eart  ie^Z 
n  he  meanwhile,  a  prey  to  the  insidious  attaeks  of  a "^0: 
seated  eonsumpfon,  Mrs.  Edgeworth  was  sinking  intotlfe 
grave     Her  husband,  whose  passion  burned  unabated  „, 
rates  the  elos.ng  seenes  with  much  pathos :  _  "The  mo  1 1 
,  loved  as  a  wife,  a  sister,  and  a  friend,  of  any  person  I  I 
ever  known.     Each  of  her  own  f.,^;        ""^.P"*>"  ^  •>»'« 
— y,  prefe.ed  .e^^ r!:  ^^  rnZdtd'r 

pi"ow  of  sueh  ^^^■o.js:::z^^^::Zst: 

could  eompass.  This  appears  from  a  lette?:  tru  M 
n  m  her  last  hours  to  a  near  kinswoman :_"  I  have  eve  'v 
btang,  and  I  am  h..ppy.  The  conversation  of  my  beW  J 
husband,  when  my  breath  will  let  me  have  it,  is  my  gr  a  e' 
dehght;  he  procures  me  every  comfort  •.„,!  n.  /  °7  '' 
said  he  thought  he  should.  colZfCj:'.;:;  ll'^Z 
can  case  and  assist  my  weakness.  ^        ° 

'  Like  a  kind  angel  whispers  peace, 
And  smooths  the  bed  of  death.'  "' 

It  was  her  dying  request  that  her  husband  should  marrv  her 

.».er  Ehzabeth,  who,  like  herself,  had  been  soughTi" ma 

age  by  h,s  friend  Day.     This  desire  Mr.  Edfeworth  ful 

fil  ed,  and  she  also  dying,  he  took  in  fourth  Cws  the 

^^r  of  the  late  Admiral  Beaufort ;  and  here  we  wm  Lve 

™.    It  was  m  honor  of  his  second  wife,  we  are  told  tiZ 

l.e  gave  her  name  ,0  the  town  of  SneydU.ugh,  in  Not' 


68 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDRfi. 


Carolina;  a  province  in  which  ho  possessed  some  hinded  i,,. 
terests.  In  1780,  the  same  year  that  witne^^sed  Andre's  I 
death,  died  a  second  Honora  Edgeworth,  the  only  survivincr 
daughter  of  Honora  Sneyd.  The  little  tale  of  Rivuletlju 
published  in  Early  Lessons,  and  some  drawings  that  are  yet 
preserved,  attest  this  child's  resemblance  in  talents  to  her 
mother;  — she  resembled  her  as  well  in  constitution,  and  in 
the  source  of  her  death. 


AnJrd  joins  t 
II( 


!         I 


Every  I 

has  been  u 

marriage  to 

Andre  to  re 

army.     Mr. 

came  disgusi 

from  his  bitt 

sorrows  in  tl 

after  mentit 

other  hand, 

ish  army  in  i 

outbreak  of  i 

distinguished 

I  very  properh 

ered  trifles." 

I  Miss  Seward 

[Andre's   cons 

[Ilonora's  wee 

"Th( 
Yet 
Till 
Am 

The  «  hove 
hidings  of  He 
quitted  his  pr 
America."  T 
elapsed  betwe 


CHAPTER  III. 

Anard  joins  the  Army.  -  Visits  Germany. -Condition  of  tl.c  Ser^-ice. - 
He  comes  to  America. -State  of  Am  .ican  Affairs.     ^''*'- 

Every  historical  writer,  who  has  treated  of  the  subiect 
has  been  under  the  impression  that  it  was  despair  at  the' 
inarnage  to  another  of  the  woman  whom  he  loved  which  led 
Andre  to  renounce  his  previous  occupation  and  to  enter  the 
army     Mr.  Sparks  says,  "From  that  moment  Andrd  be- 
came  d.sgusted  with  his  pursuits,  and  resolved  to  seek  relief 
from  his  bitter  associations,  and  dissipate  the  memory  of  his 
sorrows  in  the  turmoil  and  dangers  of  war."     Lord  Mahon 
after  mentioning  the  marriage,  remarks,  -Andre,  on  the 
other  hand,  to  seek  relief  from  his  sorrows,  joined  the  Brit- 
ish  army  m  Canada,  with  a  Lieutenant's  commission,  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  war."     The  error  was  one  into  which  these 
distinguished  writers  were  reasonably  led,  but  which  may 

''T  TTl^  *?  '"^'''"'"^  ^^  '^'^  "snapper-up  of  unconsid- 
ered tnfles.  It  was  probably  through  the  statements  of 
Miss  Seward  that  the  mistake  originated;  who  asserts  that 
Andre  s  constancy  remained  unshaken  until  he  heard  of 
ilonora's  weddin"-. 

"Though  four  long  years  a  night  of  absence  prove 
Yet  Hope's  fond  star  shone  trembling  on  his  love : 
J  111  hovering  Rumour  chas'd  the  pleasing  dream, 
And  veil'd  with  raven-wing  the  silver  beam." 

The  "hovering  Rumour"  she  explains  to  have  been  "the 
tidings  of  Honora's  marriage.     Ui)on  that  event  Mr.  Andre 

irrL'"  rf 't"  "  r  ™^^^^^"^'  -<i  J--d  onr  army  in 
America.  Thus  ,t  would  appear  that  the  four  years  which 
elapsed  between  the  Buxton  connection  of  1769  and  Edrre- 


n 


40 


LIl'K  OF  MAJOlt  ANIJUJi. 


worth's  mamago  in  1773,  wore  lo  Andrd,  in  the  main,  "a 
night  ol'  abst'Dce ; "  and  that  even  u  correspondence  did  not 
long  subsist  may  bo  infcried  from  the  deehiration  that  it  was 
to  n  hovering  rumor  that  he  owed  the  intelligence  of  Ilonora 
being  tlje  bride  of  another.     Therefore  the  half-suppressed 
indignation  of  JNIr.  Edgeworth  at  this  version  of  the  affair, 
may  bo  well  understood.     He  complains  that  the  author  of 
the  Monody  insinuates  that  Major  Andre  was,  in  plain  En;;. 
lish,  jilted  by  the  lady ;  and  that,  "  in  consequence  of  this 
disappointment,  he  went  into  the  army,  and  quitted  this  coun- 
try."     Nor  must  it  be  forgotten  that  during  these  four  years 
Miss  Sneyd  had  been  considered  by  her  family  as  entirely 
disengaged,  and  free  to  receive  the  addresses  of  any  eligible 
suitor:  nor  that,  as  in  Mr.  Day's  case,  she  actually  had  re- 
ceived such  addresses.     The  fairest  conclusion  which  we  can 
arrive  at  is,  that  Andre,  abashed  at  the  discouragement  his 
suit  had  encountered,  and  discouraged  by  the  difficulties  to 
be  overcome  ere  he  could  be  permitted  to  return  to  the  siege, 
had  given  way  to  the  original  bent  of  his  inclinations,  widi' 
out  at  all  relinquishing  the  attachment  which  he  no  longer 
could  have  reason  to  expect  would  be  presently  gratilied. 
That  he  should  abandon  the  hope  of  ultimate  success  need 
not  at  all  be  considered. 

"  None,  witliout  hope,  e'er  loved  tlic  briirhtcst  fair, 
Yet  love  will  hope,  where  reason  must  despair." 

His  aversion  to  trade  and  wishes  for  a  military  career  have 
already  been  manifested,  in  his  letters  of  1769 ;  and  it  may 
readily  be  conceived  that  the  advantages  of  an  employment ' 
for  which  by  nature  and  by  education  he  was  especially  well 
adapted,  were  not  without  their  weight  in  his  mind.     Few  | 
men,  as  the  result  proved,  were  more  capable  than  he  of 
winning  a  soldier's  rewards ;  and  no  man  of  the  day  could  I 
have  worn  them  with  more  grace  ; 

"  Medals,  rank,  ribands,  luce,  embroidery,  scarlet, 
Are  things  immortal  to  humortal  man;" 


and  his  ag 

The  love  c 

was  joined 

life,  with  tl 

man  natur 

cording  to 

ters."     So 

year,  we  fir 

icnn  officer 

whose  lette; 

[)atliy  and 

reluctant  ar 

had  been  ei 

tion  may  1 

Andre's  ow 

tion  to  be 

prejudice  ar 

compting-hc 

In  January, 

by  his  most 

commission,' 

"  was  dated 

and  four  mo 

it  was  in  the 

all  the  Licl 

did  not  que 

fore,  Miss  S< 

her  memory, 

In  the  eai 

and  did  not  i 

ing  this  peril 

Europe.     Hi 

business  as  a 

'uid  the  youi 

long  borne  ii 

flays  was  tha 


UK  VISITS  OEHMANV, 


41 


nnd  his  ngc  must  have  ^iven  tliem  pficuliar  charms  to  Andre. 
The  love  of  fame  —  ''that  last  infirmity  of  noblo  minds"  — 
was  joined  in   him,  as  is  shown  by  the  whole  tenor  of  his 
life,  with  that  thirst  for  military  glory  which  so  long  ns  hu- 
man nature  exists  in  its  present  constitution,  will  ever,  ac- 
cording to  Gibbon,  be  "  the  vice  of  the  most  exalted  charac- 
ters."    So  soon,  therefore,  as  he  approached  his  twenty-first 
year,  we  find  him  entering  the  army.     The  son  of  an  Amer- 
ican olficer,  who  was  much  with  him  in  his  last  days,  and  in 
whose  letters  Andre's  fate  always  found  the  language  of  sym- 
pathy and  friendship,  asserts  that  ho  tore  himself°frora  the 
reluctant  arms  of  the  circle  of  devoted  relatives  in  which  ho 
had  been  educated,  to  wear  the  King's  livery.    This  informa- 
tion may  have  been  obtained  by  Colonel  Hamilton   from 
Andrd's  own  lips  ;  but  it  is  only  confirmatory  of  the  deduc- 
tion to  be  drawn  from  his  letters,  that  there  was  a  strong 
prejudice  among  his  friends  in  favor  of  his  remaining  in  the 
compting-house.      Their  wishes  were,  however,  unavailing. 
In  January,  1772,  by  an  account  said  to  have  been  furnished 
by  his  most  intimate  friends,  he  entered  the  army.  «  His  first 
commission,"  says  Mr.  Edgeworth,  with  greater  particularity, 
"  was  dated  March  4th,  1771."  This  was  more  than  two  years 
and  four  months  antecedent  to  Miss  Sneyd's  marriage ;  but 
it  was  in  the  very  time  of  those  attentions  of  Mr.  Day  which 
all  the  Lichfield  world,  Mr.  Edgeworth  himself  included, 
did  not  question  were  certain  to  succeed.     Perhaps,  there- 
fore. Miss  Seward  may  have  confounded  the  two  events  in 
her  memory,  and  attributed  an  effect  to  a  wrong  cause. 

In  the  eariy  part  of  1772,  Andre  went  over  to  Germany, 
and  did  not  return  to  England  until  the  close  of  1773.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  visited  most  of  the  courts  in  that  part  of 
Europe.  His  kinsman,  Mr.  John  Andre,  was  established  in 
business  as  a  musical  composer  and  publisher  at  Offenbach ; 
and  the  young  officer's  presence  at  her  father's  house  was 
long  borne  in  mind  by  a  daughter,  whose  impression  in  later 
days  was  that  her  cousin's  business  in  Germany  was  to  con- 


hm4 


rV 


42 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDlit. 


duct  a  corps  of  Hessians  to  America.  This,  in  1772,  would 
have  been  rather  premature ;  but  it  is  very  possible  that  his 
affairs  there,  away  from  his  regiment  for  nearly  two  years, 
may  have  been  in  some  manner  connected  with  German  sub- 
eidiaries,  and  under  the  direction  of  his  own  government. 

The  regiment  which  Andre  had  joined  was  the  Seventli 
Foot,  or  Royal  English  Fusiliers :  one  of  the  oldest  corps  in 
the  line,  and  dating  its  formation  in  the  year  1685.     The 
rank  of  ensign  does  not  exist  in  a  fusilier  regiment,  the 
grade  being  supplied  by  a  second  lieutenant ;  it  was  in  this 
latter  capacity  that  he  seems  to  have  first  served.     In  April, 
1773,  the  regiment  had  been  embarked  for  Canada,  where  it 
performed  garrison  duty  at  Quebec  for  several  months  until 
it  was  sent  to  Montreal,  and  variously  posted  in  Lower  Can- 
ada.    Before  leaving  England  to  join  it,  however,  it  is  as- 
serted that  Andre  paid  a  final  visit  of  farewell  to  Miss  Sew- 
ard and  to  the  scenes  of  his  former  happiness ;  which  was 
attended  by  circumstances  of  a  character  so  strange  as  to  be 
worthy  of  repetition,  if  not  of  belief.     During  his  stay,  we 
are  told.  Miss  Seward  had  made  arrangements  to  take  him  to 
see  and  be  introduced  to  her  friends  Cunningham  and  New- 
ton, —  both  gentlemen  of  a  poetical  turn.     On  the  night  pre- 
ceding the  day  appointed  for  her  appearance,  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham dreamed  that  he  was  alone  in  a  great  forest.     Presently 
he  perceived  a  horseman  approaching  at  great  speed ;  but  as 
he  drew  near  to  the  spot  where  the  dreamer  imagined  him- 
self to  stand,  three  men  suddenly  sprung  from  their  conceal- 
ment among  the  bushes,  seized  on  the  rider,  and  bore  him 
away.    The  captive's  countenance  was  visible ;  its  interesting 
appearance,  and  the  singularity  of  the  incident,  left  an  un- 
pleasant feeling  on  Mr.  Cunningham's  mind  as  he  awoke. 
But  soon  falling  to  sleep  again,  he  was  visited  by  a  second 
vision  even  more  troubling  than  the  first.    He  found  himself 
one  of  a  vast  multitude  met  near  a  great  city :  and  while  all 
were  gazing,  a  man,  whom  he  recognized  as  the  same  person 
that  had  just  been  captured  in  the  forest,  was  brought  forth 


and  hanged  uj 
following  mori 
Miss  Seward 
ningham   at  ( 
whom  he  had 

Whether  tli 
tions  which  ar 
will  not  be  in 
of  conteraplatic 
into  which  An( 
of  the  British 
much  of  its  i 
attributable  to 
as  Avell  to  set 
long  prior  to  h 
vigorously  exp 
system.  Fiftj 
thoroughly  rec 

The  purcha 
and  to  mend  r 
tain  a  pair  of  < 
pendant.  Chi 
army-lists ;  a  i 
ble  young  ladi 
the  title  of  cap 
but  they  were 
military  school 
was  exacted  o: 
of  possessing  i 
through  the  e: 
from  a  sergean 
of  idleness  or 
be  "  a  pretty  i 
service,  —  whe 
stage  were  fai 
deep,  bilked  t 


CONDITION  OF  TIIE  SERVICE. 


43 


and  hanged  upon  a  gibbet.  These  dreams  were  repeated  the 
following  morning  to  Mr.  Newton ;  and  when,  a  little  after, 
Miss  Seward  made  her  appearance  with  Andr^,  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham at  once  knew  him  to  be  the  unhappy  stranger 
whom  he  had  seen  stopped  and  hanged. 

Whether  this  story  may  not  belong  to  the  class  of  predic- 
tions which  are  not  heard  of  until  the  event  has  occurred, 
will  not  be  inquired  into  here.  A  more  important  subject 
of  contemplation  is  the  condition  and  nature  of  the  new  life 
into  which  Andre  had  now  embarked ;  and  as  the  constitution 
of  the  British  army  was  at  that  time  so  anomalous,  and  as 
much  of  its  ill-success  in  the  American  war  was  directly 
attributable  to  the  peculiarities  of  its  organization,  it  may  be 
as  well  to  set  a  state  of  the  case  befo'c  the  reader.  Not 
long  prior  to  hostilities,  Mr.  (afterwards  Lord)  Erskine  had 
vigorously  exposed  the  glaring  inefficiencies  of  the  existing 
system.  Fifty  years  later  Scott,  ex  cathedra,  even  more 
thoroughly  recapitulated  its  abuses. 

The  purchasing  of  commissions  was  then  at  its  height; 
and  to  mend  matters,  great  men  in  power  could  always  ob- 
tain a  pair  of  colors  at  the  War-Office  for  a  favorite  or  de- 
pendant. Children  in  the  cradle  thus  were  enrolled  in  the 
army-lists :  a  school-boy  might  be  a  field-officer ;  and  amia- 
ble young  ladies  are  known  to  have  drawn  the  pay  and  held 
the  title  of  captains  of  dragoons.  Of  course  they  did  no  duty ; 
but  they  were  as  fit  for  it  as  many  who  did.  There  was  no 
military  school  in  the  kingdom ;  and  no  military  knowledge 
was  exacted  of  the  officer  who,  ashamed  of  being  suspected 
of  possessing  the  first  rudiments  of  his  profession,  huddled 
through  the  exercise  by  repeating  the  words  of  command 
from  a  sergeant,  and  hastened  back  to  more  congenial  scenes 
of  idleness  or  dissipation.  These  were  the  days  when  to 
be  "  a  pretty  fellow  "  was  a  manner  of  qualification  for  the 
service,  —  when  the  Amlets,  and  Plumes,  and  Brazens  of  the 
stage  were  fair  types  of  a  class  that  "  swore  liard,  drank 
deep,  bilked  tradesmen,  and   plucked  pigeons."     The  few 


y'? 


Ill 


u 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRli:. 


men  of  social  rank  that  bad  any  degree  of  professional  skill 
were  regarded   as  paragons ;    while  any  talent  that  might 
exist  in  a  subaltern  was,  as  it  is  too  often  now,  rather  a  curse 
than  a  blessing  to  its  owner,  unless  he  had  money  or  patron^ 
age  to  get  on  with.     There  seems  to  have  been  no  uniform 
system  of  tactics ;  every  commandant  manoeuvred  his  regi- 
ment  after  his  own  preference,  and  thus,  without  previo'Ls 
concert,  a  brigade  could  not  half  the  time  execute  any  com- 
bined  movement  decently.     The  garb  of  the  private  was 
ludicrously  unsuitable  and  absurd.     More  time  was  given  to 
daubing  the  hair  with  tallow  and  flour  than  to  the  manual  or 
drill;  and  the  severity  with  which  a  neglected  queue  was 
punished  sometimes  goaded  the  very  best  corps  into  mutiny. 
In  fact,  the  more  crack  a  regiment  became,  the  less  it  seems 
to  me  to  have  been  fit  for  service;  and  there  is  verisiraili- 
tude,  if  not  truth,  in  the  story  of  the  Hessian  colonel  who 
blew  his  brains  out  because,  in  reply  to  his  boast  that  his 
dragoons  dressed  in  a  line  were  so  equally  matched  that  but 
one  pigtail  could  be  seen  along  the  backs  of  all,  the  Duke  of 
York  pointed  out  the  irregularity  of  thtir  noses  ! 

Such  being  the  condition  of  the  army,  it  is  perhaps  not 
too  much  to  suppose  that  Andre,  having  purchased  his  com- 
mission,  was  determined  to  put  himself  on  a  footing  so  far 
superior  to  his  fellows  as  would  certainly  facilitate  his  ad- 
vancement; and  that,  therefore,  he  may  have  been  on  the 
continent  occupied  in  perfecting  himself  in  various  profes- 
sional branches,  for  which  England  could  have  afforded  no 
facilities ;  since  it  is  well  known  that,  at  a  still  later  period 
in  the  century,  Wellington  was  sent  abroad  to  acquire  the 
rudiments  of  an  officer's  education.     Be  this  as  it  may,  he 
embarked  in  1774  to  join  his  regiment,  then  stationed  in  Can- 
ada, and  arrived  on  his  journey  at  Philadelphia  in  September 
of  that  year. 

It  may  well  be  asked  why  Andre  should  have  taken  this 
route  to  Canada.  The  travel  from  the  Delaware  to  the  St. 
Lawrence  was  to  the  full  as  tedious  as  that  from  En-land 


^.jM 


HE  COMES  TO  AMEBICA.  45 

10  America,   ami   the  voyage   between   the   two  countries 
muld  h.„e  as  readily  been  performed  to  one  river  as  the 
other.    On  Sunday    the  17th  of  the  very  month  in  which 
he  reached  Phdadelphia,  the  ship  Canadian  arrived  at  Que- 
bec, m  s,xty  days  fram    Cbwes,    bringing    over    Cartoon 
aad  Ins  fam.ly;  of  „h,ch  Viscount  Pitt,  the  elder  son  of 
the  grea    Earl  of  Chatham,  was  then  a  member.     From 
our  knowledge  of  Andre's  character,  it  seems  unhkely  that 
w,th„u  some  cause  he  should  have  missed  the  opporfunity 
winch  taking  p.assage  in  this  vessel  would  have  afforded,  ol 
co,n,„g  m  dn«t  contact,  th,-ough  several  weeks,  with  his 
commander.     Or  he  might  have  sailed  in  other  vessels  to 
Quebec,  or  even  to  Boston,  and  have  thus  saved  along  and 
(augumg  part  of  the  course.     Is  it  not  probable  th-U  the 
sdec.  on  of  Philadelphia  was  governed  ./the  etum  ta    e  • 
Na  the  meetmg  of  the  fl..t  Continental  Congress  was  called 
at  that  place,  and  that  there  was  a  g«,d  deal  for  an  intel  i- 
gcnteye-wntness  to  possess  himself  of  between  Pennsylvania 
"     ^r'^t     ./^'^  '»™  '"'='ta'«tion  may  have   suLested 
.s  -dca ,  but  ,f  ,t  really  bad  an  existence,  it  was  in  a« 
hehhood  carried  into  eifect  by  direction  of  Carleton  him' 
«lf ;  -  a  leader  whom  Heath,  one  of  the  chiefs  of  our  revolu- 
■onary  .army,  characterises  as  the  greatest  general  the  British 
W  m  .  „s  country  during  the  war,  and  whose  retention 

Amcca  llns  IS  the  only  manner  in  which  Andre's  pros- 
cnce  m  the  South  can  be  accounted  for  at  a  time  wl  en  e 
.hud  serve  Ins  sovereign  in  the  North.  He  was  a  p  rod  " 
.ou>ly  keen  observer;  he  doubtless  noted  all  that  he  saw- 
aud  .he  state  of  things  in  the  colonies  was,  beyond  <,LZ: 
of  a  n,-,ture  to  excite  the  anxious  attention  of  every  considering' 
h»n  u.  .authority.  Domestic  troubles  were  more  than  appre 
.ended  by  the  ministry,  .and  the  intervention  of  the  mSv 

i™s7tr:  "^^  •"-;  ^"^  '^p^'-  •" '"« »-p'«  ™^ ' - 

h  1    ot      .''f  r  '^"°*"  '™"'''  "•"•«•'»'■«  be  points  .„ 


4G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOll  ANDRlS. 


.•W:'= 


At  this  very  moment,  liowever,  it  is  probable  that  our 
Revolution  could  have  been  turned  aside  by  a  change  of 
British  policy.  The  bulk  of  the  patriotic  party  here  were 
in  opposition  as  Englishmen  less  than  Americans.  They 
applauded  the  words  of  Chatham  and  Rockingham,  and  re- 
garded North  as  their  political  enemy,  ard  the  misleader  of 
the  king.  They  did  not  know  that  it  was  the  king  who 
guided  his  ministers,  and  who  really  is  chiefly  responsible 
for  the  production  of  measures  of  questionable  constitution- 
ality,  and  as  impolitic  as  impracticable.* 

The  general  tone  of  whig  feeling  in  Philadelphia  had  from 
the  first  been  cautious  but  firm.  The  public  sympathy  was, 
it  is  true,  warmly  enHsted  for  the  Bostonians  ;  but  the  public 
mind  was  not  as  yet  filed  to  that  hostility  to  England  which 
prevailed  in  Massachusetts.  The  first  Continental  Congress, 
however,  was  now  met ;  and  as  it  was  in  session  at  Phila- 
delphia from  5th  September  to  26th  October,  1774,  we  may 
reasonably  conclude  that  its  doings  were  not  disregarded  by 
Andre.  The  secrecy  in  which  the  conduct  of  this  body  was 
wrapt,  prevents  us  to-day  from  knowing  much  more  than 
what  appears  on  its  published  record;  but  by  contempo- 
raries, many  things  must  have  at  least  been  surmised,  which 
are  lost  to  us  forever.  It  sufficiently  appears  that  the 
boasted  unanimity  of  the  assembly  had  no  foundation  in 
fact.     At  an  early  stage  it  seems  to  have  been  agreed,  by 

*  It  is  curious  to  note  how  entirely  North's  dispositions  were  misun(le^ 
stood.  It  is  now  known  that  attachment  to  tlie  king  rather  than  desire  of 
power  kept  him  at  the  head  of  affairs,  and  committed  him  to  the  most  ob- 
noxious  measures.  Inheriting  more  of  tlie  capacity  than  the  ambition  of 
the  Lord-Keeper,  he  would  have  preferred  pleasure  to  fame;  and  when  he 
was  figured  in  America  as  devising  new  schemes  of  oppression,  was,  per- 
haps,  frolicking  with  Thurlow  and  Rigby,  or  making  bout$  rimes  at  the 
dinner-table.  Of  his  skill  in  this  line,  an  anecdote  is  preserved.  Lord 
Sandwich  so  placed  a  lame  Mr.  Melligan  that  his  name  came  to  North's 
turn  in  tagging  verses.   The  result  was  thus  sung  by  the  Prime  Minister  :- 

"  Oh,  pity  poor  Mr.  Melligan ! 
Who,  walking  along  Pallmall, 
Hurt  his  foot  when  down  he  fell, 
And  fears  he  won't  get  well  again!  » 


STATE  OF  AMERICAN  AFFAIUS.  47 

way  of  lending  weight  to  every  conclusion,  that  the  decision 
ot  a  majority  should  be  acquiesced  in  by  all;  and  that  no 
one  should  reveal  anything  that  transpired  without  express 
pernnss.on  of  congress.  After  this  arrangement  had  been 
settled  upon,  we  are  told,  by  a  well-informed  tory  pamphlet" 
eer  o  the  day,  tlmt  when  some  strong  measures  were  int. 
duced  and  earned,  the  effect  on  the  minority  was  like  "  tl'e 

tl'" HaU      So";"'  "  ^'^  '"^'"°  ''  ^  ^^-^  "  -  Carpen! 
tr      la  1      So  far  as  can  be  now  gathered,  we  may  infer 

that  to  th.s  congress  came  several  delegates  who  had  re- 

solved  m  the.r  secret  hearts  upon  secession  from  Britain 

andwhbse  axmwasto  produce  war  rather  than  reconcilia- 

tion  *     Whether  or  not  they  represented  the  wishes  of   hel 

own  constituents    they  certainly  did  not  in   this  fulfil   the 

dosu-es  of  the  colonies  generally;  and  it  was  necessary,  by 

evasion  or  dema ,  to  deceive  the  country  at  large  with  LIi 

professions,  untd  nearly  two  years   later,  when  a  majority 

of  congress  was  ready  to  unite  in  the  resolve  of  indepen^ 

dence.    At  the  close  of  the  war,  a  Boston  statesman  Z 

re  erred  to  his  own  services  in  producing  the  result :  - 

Here,  m  my  retreat,  like  another  Catiline,  the  collar 

around  my  neck,  in  danger  of  the  severest  punishmen     I 

la.d  down  the  plan  of  the  revolt ;  I  endeavoreS  to  pruade 

my  timid  accomplices  that  a  most  glorious  revolutio'n  "^ 

Ipanie! ttSmtg  'a^d  ^^^3"  '  T'f  ''''""  '  ^'^^^^^^^^  ^-' 
lith  views  altog^^fctZS'r  "'  '"T  ''  "^^ -«->l>'y 
wl,at.  bating  .  d'esignin;  j^o  si  0  r  XtaT"  Op'Ih  '"'^'  ''  '""'  "^^ 
pendency  upon  G-at  Ikitlin   „f  .n      ^  !         ^^  ^^''°  '"^"'  '^^•*  '"^1^- 
ject.    I'ytlL^he  pul^    0    the  re     waT^e'ir  ""  ^f  ^---ite  pro- 
fcion,  and  often  upon  no  occasion  a    a  1    'n  it  Z  "''"'^  ^"''""'""^'^  «^^^- 
Iconcerted  to  produce  what  wc  aJl  nrnf  '   .  .    "T  ''*''"  '"'"  ™^"«"^««  ^^^e 
[time  that  we  uni^^rsaC,^^^^^^^  to  deprecate;  nay,  at  the  very 

jof  our  liearts  I  2  fo  .  J  I'  ^^'''"'^^  «^  ^^^'^^'^'^  *«  ^'^iiess  the  pm-ity 
our  invo  In  Uxe  e  ^°"  '"r'''"l  ""^  "^  ^^^^^^  ''  '"-y  «f  «4ave 
Ion  of  a  mal's  V  a  itv' whn  •  I  T7'  '"*''"'"'"  '^'  ™°^*  favourable  opin- 
tndwhen  rerepS;cra  "^^^^^  ^-  ^'^  -^ 

Fo  prevent  the  neStTof-dS;'      T-'-   «^'"«">^  P"'-^"^"^  nieasure^ 
r   1  necessity  of  doing  it."  -  Lmriffston  to  Laurens,  Sedg.  Liv. 


48 


LFFE  OF  MAJOli  ANDRl^. 


be  the  result  of  our  efforts,  but  I  scarcely  dai-ed  to  hope  it ; 
and  what  I  have  seen  realized  appears  to  me  like  a  dream. 
You  know  by  what  obscure  intrigues,  by  what  unfaithful, 
ness  to  tlie  mother-country,  a  powerful  party  was  formed; 
how  the  minds  of  the  people  were  irritated,  before  we  could 
provoke  the  insurrection." 


Had  it  been  avowed  in  the  Congress  of  1774,  that  the  end 
of  some  of  its  leaders  was  a  democratic  and  independent  gov- 
ernment, it  is  probable  that  a  vast  majority  of  the  American 
people  would  have  repulsed  them  with  indignation.  By  dis- 
simulation, however,  they  maintained  the  control  until  affairs 
were  sufficiently  ripe.  For  indeed  the  issue  was  very  clear. 
America  was  at  this  moment  disciplining  her  troops  with  the 
view  of  resisting  the  enforcement  of  certain  acts  of  Parlia- 
ment. It  was  folly  to  suppose  that  this  course  would  not 
end  in  open  hostilities,  unless  the  acts  were  repealed ;  and 
hostilities  once  begun,  subjugation  or  independence  was  the 
inevitable  result.  More  far-sighted  than  their  colleague?, 
they  perceived  that  it  was  only  necessary  to  keep  both  coun- 
tries moving  in  their  present  course  to  render  a  collision  cer- 
tain. Indeed,  despite  the  loyal  protestations  that  America 
put  forth  during  the  ensuing  twelvemonth,  there  can  be  little 
question  but  that  Thurlow  was  correct  in  asserting  that  at 
the  end  of  1774  open  rebellion  existed  in  the  colonies. 

Nor  could  anything  have  more  entirely  aided  this  party  I 
in  congress  than  the  course  pursued  in  England  by  tlie 
leaders  of  the  two  great  factions.  On  the  one  hand  they 
were  told  by  the  most  eminent  men  in  the  state,  that  their 
cause  was  just  and  their  resistance  laudable  ;  —  Chatham  and 
Burke,  Richmond  and  Granby  applauded  their  course; 
Savile  upheld  it  as  "  a  justifiable  rebellion."  On  the  other, 
as  though  with  full  intent  to  stimulate  into  rage  against 
England,  every  American  who  had  not  as  yet  drawn  the 
sword,  the  halls  of  Parliament  cctjoed  with  the  denials  to  our 
countrymen  of  the  most  ordinii  y  attributes  of  manhood.    In 


STATE    OF    AAIEKICAN    AFFAUiS. 


49 


tlic  Lords,  Sandwich  pronounced  his  American  fellow-sub- 
jects to  be  cowards,  and  only  regretted  that  there  was  no 
probability  of  the  king's  troops  encountering  at  once  "  two 
hundred  thousand  of  such   a  rabble,  armed  with  old  rusty 
firelocks,  pistols,  staves,  clubs,  and  broomsticks ; "  and  thus 
exterminating  rebellion  at  one  blow.     The  speaker's  brother 
might  have  given  him  a  different  idea  of  American  prowess, 
since  he  had  been  sufficiently  beaten,  in  the  streets  of  Bos- 
ton, by  a  smaller  man  from  Roxbury,  for  some  wild  frolic. 
But  he  preferred  the  testimony  of  Sir  Peter  Warren  as  to 
the  misconduct  of  the  New  England  troops  at  Louisbourg 
in  1745 ;  testimony  which,  if  true,  convicts  them  of  cow- 
ardice not  unlike   that  for  which   Lord   George   Germain, 
the  incoming  Secretary  of  State,  had  been  cashiered  by  a 
court-martial.     Li  the  Commons,  too,  Colonel  Grant,  who 
knew  the  Americans  well,  was  certain  they  would  not  fight. 
They  possessed  not  a  single  military  trait,  and  would  ne°ver 
stand  to  meet  an  English  bayonet.     He  had  been  in  Amer- 
ica, and  disHked  their  language  and  their  way  of  life,  and 
thought  them  altogether  entirely  "out  of  humanity's  reach." 
He  forgot  to  add,  however,  that  his  own  services  amon'- 
the  Alleghanies  had  not  been  of  a  very  triumphant  charact 
ter;  and  it  is  pleasant  to  believe  that  Cruger,  an  American- 
born,  reminded  him  of  this  fact  in  his  reply,  since  we  find 
him  called  to  order  as  being  personal.     But  these  boastful 
and  injurious  words  had  at  least  one  good  effect :  they  pro- 
voked the  Americans.     Even  Washington  was  disturbed  by 
such  wholesale  slanders,  and  long  after,  when  some  British 
troops  had  been  badly  treated  at  Lexington,  found  occasion 
to  remmd  his  friends  in  London  of  Lord  Sandwich's  lan- 


guage. 


If  such  then  was  the  sentiment  in  the  senate,  we  need 
hardly  ask  how  American  valor  was  esteemed  in  the  royal 
camp ;  but,  in  truth,  there  appears  to  have  been  such  an  in- 
linite  disdain  of  its  opponents  in  this  quarter,  that,  considering 
all  thuigs,  it  is  almost  wonderful  that  the  king's  cause  was 


-f^       ^m 


fJ-i 


S 


50 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


not  ruined  outright  at  the  very  commencement  of  the  war 
As  the  Roman  soldiery  scornfully  held  every  civilian  to  be 
a  peasant,  and  as  the  Christians,  improving  on  this,  extended 
the  word  pagan  to  every  one  not  of  their  faith,  —  so  the 
English  officer  of  that  day  seems  to  have  deemed  the  colonist 
as  the  basest  of  all  base  mohairs.  One  gallant  general 
thought  a  single  regiment  would  be  sufficient  to  march  from 
Massachusetts  to  Georgia,  and  to  make  singing-boys  of  all 
the  people.  Another  (the  natural  brother  of  the  king)  more 
moderately  writes  from  Florida,  that  "  three  or  four  regi- 
ments would  completely  settle  those  scoundrels  "  in  Carolina. 
Robertson  thought  it  very  dastardly  in  the  Yankees  to  get 
behind  a  wall ;  and  all  considered  it  mere  idiocy  to  look  for 
anything  like  a  contested  field.  But  there  were  plenty  of 
men  who  recollected  how  the  very  same  language  bad  been 
held  by  the  king's  officers  before  Falkirk  and  Preston,  and 
what  a  running  commentary  ensued  thereon. 

But  the  most  unfortunate  encouragement  that  America 
received  from  England,  was  the  assurance  that  the  latter 
country,  whether  by  reason  of  the  general  aversion  to  the 
war,  whether  because  of  its  own  comparative  feebleness, 
would  not  hold  out  bey<Jnd  a  single  campaign.  A  greater 
blunder  was  never  made;  and  its  effect  was  to  persuade 
congress  and  the  people,  that  an  easy  victory  was  in  store 
for  us,  and  to  thus  prevent  proper  preparation  for  a  long 
and  severe  conflict.  This  delusion  governed  in  great  meas- 
ure the  action  of  the  first  and  the  second  congress  ;  and  it  is 
noteworthy  that  its  chief  supporters  were  the  delegates  who 
afterwards  led  the  cabal  against  Washington.  By  giving 
forth  a  false  estimate  of  the  enemy's  power,  they  very  ma- 
terially weakened  our  own  ;  and  by  neglecting  the  means  to 
make  victory  secure,  they  at  least  rendered  it  very  doubtful. 
In  fact,  England  was  at  that  moment  in  admirable  condition 
for  war.  The  lower  classes  were  poor,  while  the  middle  and 
upper  were  unusually  rich.  Commercial  prosperity  and  the 
successes  of  the  last  part  of  the  preceding  war  had  brought  into 


STATE  OF  AMERICAN  AFFAIRS. 


51 


Ho  realm  an  unwonted  excess  of  the  circulating  coin  of  the 
world.    It  was  estimated,  that  her  people  held  more  solid 
wealth  than  those  of  any  two  other  states  in  Europe.     Thus, 
with  plenty  of  poor  to  fill  up  the  ranks,  and  plenty  of  treas- 
ure, the  country  was  in  a  good  position.     And  as  for  public 
sentiment,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  war  was  highly 
popular  with  the  British  nation  until  Europe  joined  against 
them,  and  success  became  hopeless.     In  America,  at  the  out- 
break, the  circulating  cash  was  about  $3,750,000  in  specie, 
and  $26,250,000  in  paper;  showing  a  proper  revenue  of 
about  $7,500,000.      The  population  may  be  estimated  at 
2,448,000  souls,  and  the  military  capacity  at  from  20,000  to 
30,000  men.     Of  course,  on  these  estimates,  a  large  war 
could  not  be  long  carried  on  without  foreign  aid ;  and  it  is 
therefore  again  a  happy  thing,  that  during  the  earlier  years 
of  the  struggle,  and  before  such  assistance  was  procured, 
our  people  were  persuaded  that  every  campaign  would  be 
the  last.    Another  fortunate  circumstance  was,  that  without 
pressing  the  people  by  taxes  for  its  redemption,  and  in  fact, 
without  redeeming  it  at  all,  congress  should  have  been  in  a 
position  to  issue  millions  and  hundreds  of  millions  of  paper- 
money,  wherewith  to  carry  on  the  M'ar. 

Although  secrecy  was  ordered,  yet  it  is  not  likely  that  it 
was  strictly  preserved  in  regard  to  all  the  proceedings  of  the 
first  congress  ;  and  in  his  chamber  at  the  Indian  Queen,  or 
at  the  mess  of  the  Royal  Irish,  or  wherever  he  resorted,  we 
may  suppose  that  Andre  picked  up  all  the  floating  gossip  of 
the  day.     Hardly  had  it  met,  when  the  whole  country  from 
Massachusetts  to  Pennsylvania  was  thrown  into  the  utmost 
agitation  by  false  tidings  of  the  commencement  of  hostilities. 
Israel  Putnam  wrote  to  New  York,  that  the  troops  and  ships 
had  began  the  slaughter  of  the  people  on  the  evening  of  the 
2nd  of  September,  and  called  for  aid  from  every  direction. 
Tliis  letter,  sent  by  express,  reached  New  York  on  the  5th, 
and  was  instantly  transmitted  to  Philadelphia,  where  the  bells 
were  rung  muffled  through  the  day ;  and  the  people,  Quakers 


52 


LIFE  OF  MAJOH  ANDKJS. 


ami  ull,  p;ave  vent  to  feelings  of  rage  and  indignation.  For 
three  days  the  story  was  uncontradicted,  and  fifty  thousand 
ii,(.;ii,  i(.  was  isaid,  had  prepared  to  march  fi'om  various  quar- 
(er-  •')  boston.  But  there  was  not  a  jot  or  u  tittle  of  triitli 
ill  the  tale ;  and  Putnam  had  heen  imposed  upon.  The 
story  appears  to  have  been  devised  in  New  I'^nglaiid  liy. 
some  over-anxious  whig,  for  the  purpose  of  tailing  congress 
by  surprise  at  its  first  coming  together,  and  })lunging  it  info 
such  steps  oi  opposition  as  might  not  easily  be  retracd. 
According  to  the  rumor  of  the  time,  proposals  for  a  declara- 
tion of  independence  were  even  now  suggested  in  Carpenters' 
Hall ;  but  there  were  so  many  delegates  who  threatened  to 
secede  at  once  from  the  assembly,  if  such  a  measure  was 
pressed,  that  it  was  withdrawn,  and  the  association  agreed  on 
in  its  stead  ;  the  object  of  which  was  to  distress  P^ngiish 
trade  as  much  as  possible,  and  thus  compel  a  repeal  of  the 
obnoxious  laws.  Its  effect,  however,  was  rather  to  draw 
asunder  the  two  countries,  and  to  prepare  a  more  gencml 
acceptance  by  America  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
of  177G,  than  it  could  possibly  have  encountered  in  1771, 
Thus  again  it  was  happy  for  this  country  that  the  secret 
plans  of  the  independence  party  did  not  no^^  prevail. 

The  aversion  of  some  of  the  middle  and  southern  colonies 
to  certain  measures  led  to  the  formation,  in  the  congress 
of  1774,  of  a  party  that  endured  through  all  the  war;  ami 
which,  by  unity  of  action  and  concert  of  purpose,  generally 
exercised  a  controlling  influence  in  the  state.  In  January, 
1775,  we  find  a  zealous  tory  declaring  the  acts  of  the  congress 
to  have  been  unwelcome  to  both  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania; "but  Adams  with  his  crew,  and  the  '  ughty  Sultans 
of  the  South,  juggled  the  whole  conclav  of  the  delegates." 
Before  all  was  over,  however,  there  was  an  almost  open  diffi- 
culty in  the  hall.  Several  leading  men  with^  jw  for  several 
days  ;  and  it  was  only  by  compromisinfr  matters  thai  the 
names  of  all  the  delegates  were  finally  atlixed  to  the  associa- 
tion.    These  things  were  kept  It  ..a  the  public  as  carefully 


STATE  OF  AMliUICAN  AFFAUiS. 


68 


QA  |)038ible,  and  n  general  nsscrtioii  of  unanimity  in  nil  its 
(loinp^.^  put  f()rth  by  congress.  But  something  must  have 
leaked  out  at  the  time. 

On  the  IGth  of  September,  tlie  local  gentry  invited  the 
fifty  or  sixty  delegates  to  an  entertainment  at  the  Stato 
House,  "  where  they  were  received  by  a  very  largo  com* 
puny,  composed  of  the  clergy,  such  genteel  strangers  a* 
jiappened  to  be  in  town,  and  a  number  of  respectable  citi- 
zens," making  in  the  whole  about  five  hundred  persons.  If 
Andre  were  then  in  the  city,  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose 
that  he  would  be  of  the  "  genteel  strangers  "  bidden  to  such 
a  scene  ;  and  the  proceedings  of  the  occasion,  so  far  as  they 
may  be  pronounced  upon  from  the  toast-master's  roll,  must 
have  possessed  for  him  an  interest  beyond  that  of  a  common 
political  dinner.  The  King,  the  Queen,  the  lloyal  Family, 
were  duly  pledged ;  and  then  came  the  names  of  the  party- 
leaders  on  either  side  of  the  water :  Chatham,  Richmond, 
Conway,  and  Burke;  Hancock,  Franklin,  and  Sawbridge. 
Of  course,  there  was  much  said  of  the  cause  that  had  broujrht 
thorn  together,  and  of  their  determination  to  preserve  the 
union  of  the  colonies  and  their  constitutional  freedom.  Two 
toasts  had  interest  for  any  military  guest:  "No  unconsti- 
tutional standing  armies,"  and  "  May  British  swords  never 
be  drawn  in  defence  of  tyranny  " ;  but  the  general  tone  of 
the  whole  affair  indicated  clearly  the  public  intent  to  adhere 
to  demands  which  England  would  not  grant,  and  to  resist  the 
ii^iplicatior  of  laws  which  Kngland  was  apparently  resolved 
'0  enforce.  The  iiiterence  was  easy.  If  neither  party  re- 
ceded, hostilities  were  imminent.  And  on  the  ensuing  day 
a  prac''cal  commentary  was  offered  in  the  breaking  open,  by 
a  mo^  of  the  warehouse  in  which  the  collector  of  the  cus- 
toms had  just  stored  a  cargo  of  smuggled  sugars  which  he 
bad  seized,  and  tli'  'v  restoration  to  the  importer.  All  this 
was  effected  in  comparative  openness,  nor  was  any  punish- 
ment inflicted  on  the  offenders.  It  is  true  that,  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic,  smuggling  was  then  regarded  as  a  dangerous 


6i 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR^!:. 


rnthor  tluin  an  immoral  prnctlce  ;  and  that  in  England,  even 
ten  yoar-s  later,  it  wna  so  hardily  pursued  that  near  Falmouth 
a  battery  was  erected  to  cover  the  landing-i)lace,  the  guns  ot 
which  were  opened  on  u  king's  ship  standing  in ;  but  at  the 
same  time  a  much  larger  proportion  of*  the  magifitrates  and 
people  was  there  ready  to  obey  and  to  enforce  the  laws  than 
in  this  country,  where  nearly  all  the  merchants  were  en- 
gaged in  illicit  trade,  and  where  the  popular  sentiment  re- 
garded with  abhorrence  any  attempt  from  the  raother-coun- 
try  at  its  restraint. 

Of  all  these  things  we  may  be  sure  that  Andre  took  good 
heed ;  for  that  he  was  now  on  a  tour  of  observation  through 
what  was  almost  an  enemy's  country  cannot  bo  doubted,  if 
we  consider  that,  in  addition  to  selecting  a  port  so  remote 
as  Philadelphia  from  his  ultimate  destination,  ho  left  that 
city  to  visit  Gage's  camp  at  Boston,  instead  of  repairing  at 
once  to  his  regiment  in  Canada.  This  expedition  led  him 
through  an  important  section  of  the  country,  and  gave  him 
ample  opportunity  of  ascertaining  the  complexion  of  popular 
feeling.  There  were  then  two  public  conveyances  between 
Philadelphia  and  New  York :  a  line  of  stages  had  been  es- 
tablished in  1773,  and  the  Flying  Machine  had  been  in  ope- 
ration several  years  longer.  This  last  should  rather  have 
been  called  the  Diving  Machine,  since  it  had  managed  to 
drown,  among  others,  one  of  the  earliest  and  best  actresses 
that  appeared  in  America,  by  oversetting  in  the  ferry  be- 
tween New  York  and  Staten  Island  ;  but  by  neither  carriage 
was  the  journey  between  the  two  cities  performed  in  less 
than  two  days.  Passing  through  Jersey,  then,  he  might 
have  perceived  symptoms  of  the  prevailing  strong  whig 
feeling  and  turbulent  spirit ;  and  arriving  at  New  York, 
may  have  procured  some  discouraging  information  from  his 
orother  officers  stationed  there.  The  King's  Birthday  in 
1774  had  been  duly  celebrated  indeed  by  the  23rd  regiment, 
and  what  other  military  were  at  New  York  ;  but  by  the  peo- 
ple generally  was  passed  over  almost  unnoticed.     The  active 


STATE  OF  AMERICAN  AFFAIRS. 


55 


whif,'^  under  the  name  of  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  led  an  organ- 
ized mob ;  and  their  conflicts  with  the  soldiery  were  frequent 
and  bitter.  Under  their  auspices  liberty-poles  were  erected, 
obnoxious  characters  hung  in  efRgy,  and  instant  revenge 
taken  for  the  impressment  of  sailors  by  a  ship-of-war.  Re- 
li«rion  and  Freedom  were  the  watchwords  of  the  liour,  and 
the  power  and  license  of  the  Liberty  Hoys  threatened  to 
carry  everything  before  them.  The  gentry  in  opposition, 
writes  Gouverneur  Morris,  had  started  the  mob,  for  their 
own  purposes,  in  Grenville's  time,  and  now  —  "the  heads 

of  the  mobility  grow  dangerous  to  the  gentry The 

mob  begin  to  think  and  reason.  Poor  reptiles !  it  is  with 
them  a  vernal  morning :  they  are  struggling  to  cast  off  their 
winter's  slough  ;  they  bask  in  the  sunshine,  and  ere  noon 
they  will  bite,  depend  upon  it.  The  gentry  begin  to  fear 
this."  It  must,  nevertheless,  be  confessed  that,  however  un- 
lawful it  may  have  been,  the  action  of  the  whigs  of  New 
York  at  this  time,  in  preventing  any  workmen  or  stores  being 
transmitted  to  Gage  at  Boston,  was  of  real  service  to  the 
American  cause ;  and  there  is  nothing  to  wonder  at  in  the 
turbulence  of  the  people,  considering  the  encouragement 
they  had  received  in  such  scenes  ever  since  the  period  of 
tlie  Stamp  Act. 

From  New  York  to  Boston  the  traveller  in  those  days 
usually  passed  upon  horseback ;  either  going  through  Con- 
necticut, or  by  way  of  Long  Island  to  New  London,  and  so  on- 
wards. It  matters  little  which  route  Andre  followed,  so  far  as 
the  temper  of  the  people  was  concerned.  From  the  moment 
he  entered  New  England,  he  probably  encountered  none  but 
ardent  whigs;  and  as  greater  unanimity  and  more  demo- 
cratic habits  prevailed,  so  was  the  public  mind  more  inflamed 
than  in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  Through  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1774,  the  Connecticut  farmers  had  not  been  spar- 
ing in  their  demonstrations.  At  Farmington  the  Boston 
Port  Bill  was  burned  by  the  hangman.  At  Windham  and 
Norwich,  a  merchant  from  Boston  named  Green,  suspected  of 


I 


O 
CO 

3 

9B 


5G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR15. 


loyalty  and  known  to  be  in  pursuit  of  Lis  debts,  was  mobbed 
and  driven  from   tbe  town.     At  Bolton,  the  clergyman  was 
rudely  dealt  with,  who  had  proclaimed  that  the  true  reason 
tor  opposition  to  the  introduction  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany's  tea  was,  that  since  the  tea  was  sold  at  Amsterdam  for 
1*.  and  at  London,  and  Boston  for  2..  Qd.,  it  followed  that 
Colonel  Hancock  gained  1..  10^.  by  every  pound  of  tea  he 
smuggled  in  from  Holland,  while  Colonel  Erving  gained  but 
M.  by  every  pound  he  sold  from  the  Company.     And  as 
this  private  interest,  he  argued,  had  caused  the  destruction 
of  the  t^a  in  Boston  harbor,  he  proposed  that  the  traders 
with  Holland  there  should  pay  the  damages  out  of  the  profits 
from  the  hve  thousand  boxes  of  Dutch  teas  they  had  sold 
withm  two  years.     In  short,  although  there  were  a  good 
many  tones  in  Connecticut,  the  rule  was  to  tar  and  feather 
all  who  made  themselves  prominent,  save  only  in  the  few 
towns  where  this  party  happened  to  be  the  strongest.     But 
If  any  luckless  tory  wight  was  caught  beyond  the  reach  of 
his  friendly  neighbors,  he  was  forthwith  seized  and  led  from 
town  to  town,  "as  by  law  is  provided  in  the  case  of  strolling 
ideots,  lunatics,"  &c.     And  so  in  Rhode  Island  :  -  at  Prov° 
idence,  a  public  meeting  requested  the  authorities  to  ex- 
pel  the  friends  of  the  ministry;  in  other  places,  the  whi^s 
ook  the  law  into  their  own  hands.     Through  all  New  En- 
land,  the  indisposition  to  English  sway  in  any  form  or  under 
any  circumstances,  was  daily  more  plainly  to  be  recognized  • 
and  by  the  time  Andr^  reached  Boston,  he  must  have  per' 
ceived  that  an  insurrection  was  almost  inevitable. 


Political  Conditi 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Political  Condition  of  Massachusetts  in  1774.  -  State  of  A  fr  •       .  t, 

otate  ot  Affairs  at  Boston. 

The  province  of  Massaoliii«f>ff-  p„  i 

11.0  .own  of  Boston,  couXT': y'  """^  """"  '''^"-"X 

to  the  home  authority.     The  full  of  P  .nTi    i  7  ^"^"'""'^'^^ 
stron-  bond  of  fo..  fi    .  I  ^^^"^"^  ^'""^  removed  tlie 

-"uii^  uona  ot  tear,  that  once  formed  a  mrt  nf  *?.«  r      .i 

foS    ,0      r  ^  ^   '"   ""^  """='•  ?"'•'   of   ^'™*»>  looked 

rn  M  1"  T    ""■     ^""••■■"""■'"^''  '"  "'"o^'  every 
I  radical  sense,  tlieir  commerce  had  lon<r  been  cai-,-i,..l  „„ 

rtToXr  V'"  "■^'"'^^'='^  °^  BrirainTrndTr,,: 

at  ll,e  nr„°„l  S  ,        •',  '''■''^'  """  "'"""'  ""^yevolted 
wou  ]  „, r^!.     of  d,mm,shcd  gains;  fond  of  power,  they 

I  roe    0     s:t"' T,  "    °"  °'  "  '■'""  "'  ™"-'y  "-y  bad 

clacf  r„    'l     r  T'"°"  ™  ''<^"  understood  ly  its 

b     h"  "'  "'  ".«»'^f "  ">o  inevitable  result,  and,  like  Mosos 

)l    to  P    f  ■  ,        "'  '^"'"•^  """^  "  K°od  people,"  wrote 
ta    „t    f ""'  '     "!■  '"'™  ''e™  •■•  f-e  people  ;  'and  if  y™ 

f'oplc.      Ihus  already  preparcd  to  resent  tbe  measures  of 


I 

m 


58 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


government,  they  derived  new  zeal  from  the  counsels  of  their 
spiritual  guides.     Great  as  is  still  the  influence  in  secular 
matters  of  the  clergy  of  New  England,  it  was  then  enormous; 
and  m  political  controversies  was  exercised  even  more  power- 
fully  than  to-day,  and  more  openly.     In  every  ordinary  ac- 
tion of  life,  it  was  usual  to  join  the  world's  business  with 
religious  duty;  and  where  the  force  of  conscience  failed,  the 
effect  of  long  continued  habit  controlled  the  conduct  of  men* 
And  the  clergy  of  New  England,  naturally  disturbed  at  the 
increase,  under  quasi-royal  protection,  of  prelatic  forms  of 
worship,  and  professionally  vexed  at  the  division  of  their 
power  with  a  growing  rival,  were  of  one  voice  in  their  ar^^u. 
ments.    Thus,  while  we  find  the  churchman  of  New  En^la°nd 
almost  universally  to  have  been  a  tory,  the  Congregatfonal- 
ists,  and  whosoever  adhered  to  the  Calvinistic  forms  of  wor- 

*  A  conversation  between  James  Otis  and  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
fij)m  Boston  (apparently  Thomas  Gushing,)  «i„  which  the  satire,"  savs 
Mr.  1  udor,  '  ,f  ,t  bears  a  little  hard  on  the  character  of  those  times  is  not 
wlolly  mapphcable  to  most  others,"  will  better  exemplify  this  positio., 
Ofs  observed,  "They  talk  of  sending  mc  to  the  next' General  S." 

-  i  ou  will  never  succeed  in  the  General  Court."  -  "  Not  succeed '  and 
why  not,  pray  ?  "      "  Why,  Mr.  Otis,  you  have  ten  times  the  learnt 
much  greater  ab  it  es  than  I  have,  but  you  know  nothing  of  huma^  nl- 

,  T  ~u  ,"'^*'°^'  I  ^ish  you  would  give  me  .ome  lessons." -"Be  patient 

and  I  w.ldo  so  with  pleasure.    In  the  fii-st  place,  what  meeting  do  you  gi 

Dr  Sewall's."  -  -  Very  well,  you  must  stand  up  in  strmon  tin  e 

you  mus   look  devout  and  deeply  attentive.  Do  you  have  family  prayers?" 

""wt'    -  ,1^'"'"?"'^^''"^''*'  what  does  your, amily  consist  of?" 

-  Why,  only  four  or  five  commonly;  but  at  this  tmie  I  have  one  of  Dr, 
Sewall  s  samts,  who  ,s  a  nurse  of  my  wife."  -  "  Ah !  that  is  the  very  thins; 
you  must  talk  .^hg.on  with  her  in  a  serious  manner;  you  must  have  famif; 
mThJ.  ''^^^^  ""7  :;•'"'«  «''«  i«  in  your  house:  that  woman  can  do  vol. 
more  harn    or  good  than  any  other  person:  she  will  spread  your  f^nic 

^Z^IT  ^rffS-^*'«"-    '  ^-  '''-  t«"  yo",  by  way  o/ example, 

nd  L  ?I        '''      "^V  *^'"  ''  *'"■""  ''''^''  ^«^°»-«  «»  ^1^'tion  comes  on 
I  send  to  the  cooper  and  get  all  my  casks  put  in  order;  I  say  nothing  about 

hearths  or  the  chimneys;  I  have  the  carpenter  to  make  some  repairs  in  .he 
o'll  r  'T  r'^^  I  °^^"  SO  down  to  the  ship-yards  about  elevc, 
tion  ^v  Jth  them.     1  hey  all  vote  for  me."  -  (  Tudor^s  Olis,  p.  91. ) 


POLITICAL  CON^moN  OF  MASSACHLSF.TO  «  1774.    59 
sWp  as  prached  in  that  country,  were  as  universally  „hi.,- 

favorite  bugbear     Ami.  T  >       ''l""'^°I"'<=y-     This  was  a 

»s  litllo  differing  f™„  demo',  afd.'b     1(7' "'""'''' 
lliey  listened  to  the  tale  .h»/  .        ''''™  ''"P'  »' 

epis'oopacy,  every  tent  tor  ':^ir:i:fu,d''r  ''"T'^'  "' 
i.3  mother's  side;  and  weie  fain  ,f  !  """'^^  ^'^'" 

fall  upon  them  s^  soon  Is  a  b2.'    f7'  """  ''''""'  ™'''" 
land  soil.    Intelli..ent  Id    ^         f     °"'  P'^'^'^''  ^o*  E-g- 

stronger  evidence  of  thTl'      i  f    ^^  '^'  ^''"^<^'^-     ^o 

o     ciiuence  ot  the  coincidence  of  polltiVil  nnri  ^^r  • 

feeling  in  this  crisis  can  be  found  thJ  ^'°"' 

"=-n!t  ^Jbiefe^Iafdlr ,:;  0^^^^  ^  """"' 
moved  by  one  reb'fnnn  ^„«  combined.      IJiey  were 

;o  .uaU"rr:r::;  rt-rzLr  "-i 

duction  of  !         "  ?      ''"'^^  '''»"''■ '""'«  '•"Sifted  the  inlro- 
vneie  but  in  the  hopes  or  the  fears  of  the  colonist.     T- 

^  iTu:;:';::  r' '-  r-  "»*'  -^  ^ -^^  -- 

■■nation     fVch      h    'iT'  ^^^'1  "  '"  "'^  ^P'"'""'  'l"'"- 
"•onder,°he"  Itl      T      ''^  "'"  P™?'"  "'  '"'SO.    No 

i^preeatir;  LSI™  :^:1ht"^  "'^  "■"•'  """"• 

fJ'e  Almicrhtv  Tn  ci    J  °,'  f""*  *^'»^  ^^G"*  prayers  invoked 

^''•own  1  ef  I,  -e  '•  "?;  'f  f  >^/^«--^'  ^'-  -cks,  and  to 
aui.,0..  in  the  depths  of  the  ocean.     '^  Oh  Lord," 


GO 


LIFE  OF  MAJOIi  ANDUI^. 


liHi 


imiJi 


prayed  a  fervent  divine,  "if  our  enemies  will  fi;rht  us,  let 
them  have  fighting  enough  !     If  more  soldiers  arc  on  their 
way  hither,  send  them,  oh  Lord !  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea" 
Impelled  thus  by  their  original  inclinations,  stimulated  by 
their  clergy,  and  dexterously  guided  by  astute  leaders,  the 
people  presented  a  front  that  no  royal  governor  could  repel 
or  confuse.     It  was  then  that  what  is  now  called  a  cauL 
system  was  first  brought  into  practical  use,  through  the  skiil 
ot  Samuel  Adams  and  some  other  whig  leaders.     Before  any 
puuhc  meeting  of  importance  came  off,  the  measures  and 
men  to   be  supported  were  carefully  but  secretly  decided 
upon  by  a  council  of  three  or  four  chiefs.     The  combination 
of  their  personal  adherents  at  the  meeting  was  generally  suf- 
hcent  to  decide  the  question,  and  to  give  the  tone  to  its  pro- 
ceedings ;  while  any  opposition  was  effectually  quashed  by  a 
lack  of  union  or  preparation  among  their  adversaries 

The  appointment  of  General  Gage  to  the  government  of 
Massachusetts  would,  under   ordinary    circumstances,  have 
been  an  advantage  to  both  crown  and  people.      His  poll 
t.cs,  so  far  as  we  know,  were  not  harsh; -on  the  repeal  of 
tue  Stamp  Act,  in  17G0,  his  mansion  at  New  York  Avas  bril- 
lantly  illuminated  ;_ and  he  had  chosen  a  wife  in  this  coun- 
try.   In  a  military  sense,  he  must  have  been  familiar  with  the 
land ;  for  so  long  before  as  1755  he  had  led  the  44th  re-iment 
under  Braddock,  and  been  wounded  by  the  side  of  Washin- 
ton.     But  the  leaders  of  the  whigs  now  saw  in  his  appoint- 
ment u  diabolical  design,  amounting  to  more  than  a  studied 
msult  to  the  province.     The  Port  Bill  had  been  received  at 
Boston  on  the  10th  of  May,  1774.     Gage  arrived  on  the 
l^th  ;  and  on  the  same  day  a  town-meeting  displayed  a  firm 
and  unconciliatory  temper.     On  the  17th,  Gage  was  formally 
proclaimed ;  but  even  at  the  banquet  in  Faneuil  Hall,  which 
formed  part  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  day,  the  disposition 
ot  the  people  was  displayed  by  the  hisses  with  which  they 
greeted  his  toast  to  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Hutchinson.     Yet, 
though  he  was  thus  early  warned  of  the  popular  tendencj, 


I'OUHCAL  CONDITION  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  IN  1774.  01 

..,.1  ll.ough   he   never  concealed   the   condition   of   ,l,i„„, 
from   ..mself  or  1,h  superiors,  his  letters  to  lord  Dartmoml 
H„™g h  the  summer  and  fall  of  1774  were  cal™,  an.   oft  1 
opeful     Th,ngs  were  always  worse  than  when  he  wm  " 
la,t,  bu  ere  he  wrote  again,  they  would  probably  be  on  U  e 
mend.     Ihus  ,t  came  that  little  reliance  was  placed  on  Ih 
reports;  and  the  opposition  openly  declared  tl.aU  e  had 
ccved  n„n,s.ers.     "No  event  has  turned  out  as  he  fori  I 
or  gave  reason  to  hope  ;  the  next  letter  constantly  con.radic  ' 
.0  expeetat-on  ra,sed  by  the  former."    But  he  soon  si  v  t|  a 
ho  cvd  government  of  the  pt^vince  was  nearly  at  an  en  I 
he  courts  of  jusfee  were  little  more  than  a  puppetlow 
1.0  judges  were  driven  from  the  bench,  and  the'^h,  i  s    I' 
ftscd  to  be  sworn.    Almost  within  cannon-shot  of  Boston 
iLousands  of  people  surrounded  the  house  of  OHver  the  1 
■enant-governor,  and  by  force  compelled  him  to  ^iln    uTh 
pohncal  papers  as  they  chose.    Danforth,  Lee,  a^d  „  he 
members  of  the  council,  were  similarly  handled      "it     „ 
..lature  too  had,  ,„  May,  almost  ignored  the  existen  e  of°. 
oyalgoverno,-,  and,  despite  his  proclamation  of  dUsltion 
W  provided  for  a  provincial  congress.     The  ancic,^^  lb™  of 
e.v,l  government  was  indeed  dead,  for  the  General  C™,rt 
never  met  more,  and  the  power  of  the  colony  wa,™  l^j 
V  ded  between  a  royal  governor  and  a  rebel  le!  sllre  ,n 
assachusetts  became  an  independent  state      h  Oc  obe r 
Mi,  twelve  out  of  fourteen  counties  sent  representatits  . : 
.s  pmvn,c,al  congress,  at  Salem  ,  and  it  forthwith  proceeded 
act  m  every  respect  as  the  lawful  government  of  th"   a„d 
makntg  provision   for  raising,  arming,  and  contro  «ni  ,„ 

«.i»  that  of  negro  slavery  ;  and  a  letter  directed  to  the  ehtn- 
ta  was  read  ,. .■,:,,.,  whether,  when  the  masters  vc  e  ,   "s 

'e  deba  e, :,.  was  moved  that  "  the  m.altcr  now  subside  • "  aid 

11  subsided  accordingly.     TheT  -lim  .ne,„.  .     i         .  ' 

n/.     int.r  aim  seems  to  have  been  to 


62 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


VAin 


look  exclusively  to  the  main  point,  and  to  ignore  all  others. 
Thus,  in  December,  1774,  when  the  Baptist  churches  sought 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  of  procuring  religious 
liberty,  they  were  gracefully  put  aside  by  the  congress.    And 
though  rumor  alleged  that  at  the  same  time  it  refused  to 
direct  the  immediate  taking  up  of  arms  against  the  king's 
troops  until  the  other  colonies  could  be  involved,  yet  it  wem 
on  accumulating  guns  and  ammunition,  and  electing  generals. 
In  all  that  it  did  it  had  the  support  of  the  people.     They 
who  opposed  its  action  were  far  more  respectable  in  social 
rank  than  in  numbers.     Putnam    and  Willard,  Saltonstall, 
Vassall,  and  Borland,  Fitch,  Stark,  Ruggles,  and  Babcock,  in 
vam  sought  by  their  character  and  authority  to  stay  the  tide. 
These  <vere,  it  is  true,  of  the  first  position  in  the  colony ;  but 
the  day  was  gone  when  they  were  to  command  respect  and 
obedience.     When  they  formed  associations  for  mutual  pro- 
tection in  "the  free  exercise  of  their  right  of  liberty  in  eat- 
ing, drinking,  buying,  selling,  communing,  and  acting  what, 
with  whom,  and  as  they  pleased,  consistent  with  God's  law 
and  the  King's,"  they  were  soon  broken  up  and  driven  info 
Boston,  where  Gage's  troops  protected  them  from  violence. 
"  The  tories,"  wrote  one  from  Boston  in  the  summer  of  1774, 
"lead  a  devil  of  a  life;  in  the  country  the  people  will  not 
grind  their  corn,  and  in  town  they  refuse  to  purchase  from 
and  sell  to  them."     An  obnoxious  character  might  look  for 
any  injury,  from  having  his  cattle  taken  or  barns  burned,  up 
to  personal  indignities.     Willard  going  to  recover  a  debt, 
was  mobbed  and  sent  to  the  Simsbury  mines;  Davis  was 
tarred  and  feathered ;  Ruggles  was  mobbed  and  driven  from 
the  county;  Paine  and  Chandler  met  with  little  better  usage; 
and  that "  ancient  gentleman,"  as  Gage  calls  him,  «  Thomas 
Foster,  Esquire,  was  obliged  to  run  into  the  woods  and  had 
like  to  have  been  lost."    In  short,  the  province  was  almost 
exclusively  possessed  by  an  organized  party,  who  reven-cd 
themselves  on  the  British  Parliament  in  ill-treating  every  one 
that  did  not  embrace  whig  principles.     "  There  is  something 


STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  AT  BOSTON. 


63 


extremely  absurd,"  said  an  American  at  this  date,  who  avows 
his  intention  of  eschewing  politics  as  though  they  were  edged 
tools,  "  in  some  men's  eternally  declaiming  on  freedom °of' 
thought,  and  the  unalienable  rights  of  IiJnglishmen,  when 
they  will  pot  permit  an  opponent  to  open  his  mouth  on  the 
subjects  in  dispute,  without  danger  of  being  presented  with  a 
coat  of  tar  and  feathers."     «  The  very  cause  for  which  the 
whigs  contended,"  says  another  who  himself  gallantly  fought 
for  American  independence,  "  was  essentially  that  of  freedom, 
and  yet  all  the  freedom  it  granted  was,  at  the  peril  of  tar  and 
feathers,  to  think  and  act  like  themselves."     With  equal 
animosity  the  whigs  of  the  province  regarded  Gage.     They 
burned  the  forage  coming  to  Boston  for  his  troops,°and  sunk 
the  boats  wliich  brought  bricks  for  his  use.     Beyond  the 
sound  of  his  drum-beat,  armed  resistance  was  openly  plan- 
ned :  magazines  were  established,  exercises  in  arms  set  on 
foot,  and  weapons  and  ammunition  of  every  sort,  good  or  bad, 
eagerly  sought  after  by  the  people.     Gage's  conclusion  was 
that  the  object  of  the  whig  leaders  was  to  provoke  a  collis- 
ion and  precipitate  a  war ;  and  he  therefore  did  not  fail  to 
strengthen  his  hands  for  an  occasion  which,  it  is  fair  ta  be- 
lieve, he  would  most  gladly  have  averted.     By  the  time  An- 
dre arrived  at  Boston  there  must  have  been  three  thousand 
troops  gathered  there,  besides  a  regiment  in  garrison  at  Cas- 
tle William;   and  from  several  men-of-war  in  the  harbor 
four  hundred  marines  were  drawn  early  in  December,  led  by 
Pitcairne,  a  descendant  of  the  dassical  panegyrist  of  Dundee, 
and  equally  loyal  as  his  ancestor,  though  to  another  line. 
Ills  name  is  celebrated  in  America  by  his  connection  with 
the  first  blood  shed  in  the  Revolution,  which  his  death  at 
Bunker  Hill  perhaps  expiated.     If  we  are  to  credit  M.  de 
Chastellux,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  traversing  the  country  in 
disguise  and  bringing  in  intelligence  to  Gage. 

The  condition  of  the  troops  was  not  pleasant.  They  were 
constantly  insulted  or  tampered  with  by  the  Americans,  to 
whom  their  presence  was  an  insufferable  nuisance.     Deser- 


PM 


•I'l 


64 


LIFE  OF  UfAJOU  ANDR15. 


tions  were  privately  encouraged;  and  before  the  war  be^dn, 
scarce  an  organized  American  military  company  was  without 
Us  drill-master  in  the  person  of  an  English  fugitive.     Wash- 
ington's men  at  Alexandria,  and  Greene's  in'^Rhodc  Island 
were  thus  taught  their  manual.    This  seduction  of  troops,  and 
the  allurements  held  out  to  the  men  to  sell  their  equipments 
added  fresh  fuel  to  the  growing  hatred  between  both  parties ;' 
and  frequent  affrays  occurred  between  the  soldiers  and  the' 
citizens.     It  was  probably  for  some  flagrant  annoyance  of 
this  kind  that  Dyre,  a  man  known  as  active  in  previous 
disturbances,  was  seized  and  sent  in  irons  to  England  in 
1774.     He  averred  that  Maddison,  who  seems  to  have  ques- 
tioned him  pretty  roughly  as  to  the  orders  he  might  have  re- 
ceived for  the  destruction  of  the  tea  from  "Kin^r  Hancock 
and  the  d-d  Sons  of  Liberty,"  promised  him,  that  once 
arrived  in  England,  "he  should  be  hung  like  a  do-";  but 
the  more  temperate  of  the  whigs  seem  to  have  thou°rrht  hirn 
an  untruthful  fellow ;  and  all  the  trouble  he  was  put  to  there 
was  to  be  examined  by  North,  Dartmouth,  and  Sandwich,  and 
so  discharged.     But  sometimes  the  soldiers  settled  the  mat- 
ter  themselves;  and  having  fiiirly  caught  in  the  act  a  whi<» 
tempting  them  to  sell  their  arms,  tarred  and  feathered  him 
thoroughly,  and  paraded  him,  to  the  air  of  Yankee  Doodle,  as 
"  a  specimen  of  Democracy."     The  example  of  the  officers 
too,  was  frequently  anything  but  praiseworthy.     Entertain- 
ments and  dances  were  given  on  Saturday  night  and  carried 
on  mto  Sunday  morning.     Such  things  had  never  occurred 
111  Boston  before,  and  gave  great  offence.     Nor  was  it  un- 
usual for  a  bevy  of  drunken  officers  to  commit  the  grossest 
indecencies  and  outrages  in  the  public  streets  ;  and  violent 
affrays,  in  which  they  generally  came  off  second-best,  were 
the  natural  consequence.     Of  course,  all  these  occurrences 
were  perfectly  adapted  to  inflame  the  people's  anger,  and  to 
stimulate  fresh  invectives  against  Gage.     It  is  true  that  he 
gave  a  ready  car  to  every  complaint  against  his  subordinates, 
and  seldom  hesitated  to  punish;  but  he  was  upbraided,  nev- 


STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  AT   BOSTON.  65 

crtheless,  as  the  modern  Duke  of  Alva,  as  the  tyrant  of  the 
town;  and  in  the  worst  possible  taste  was  told,  that  "the 
sava„.es  who  chased  him  on  the  Ohio  were  gentle  as  lambs, 
compared  with  men  bereaved  of  their  liberties."     The  dan- 
gerous  aspect  of  affairs  soon  led  him  to  strengthen  the  old, 
and  erect  new  works  to  protect  the  only  part  o?  his  province 
that  remained  in  good  earnest  subject  to  his  control ;  and  the 
sole  communication  between  Boston  and  the  main  was  guard- 
cd  V  substantial  redoubts.    This  was  a  great  grievance  both 
to     e  Massachusetts  and  the  Continental  Congress,  who  saw 
|n  the  fortifications  a  design  to  awe  the  country  and  enslave 
the  town ;  but  Gage  very  prudently  refused  to  comply  with 
a  request  for   their  reduction.      "Unless   themselves   an- 
noyed,   he  said  "  the  works  which  you  call  a  Fortress  will 
annoy  nobody."    In  private,  however,  the  Americans  ridi- 
culed  these  preparations.     "  The  country  lads,"  said  Lovell, 
"were  minded  to  fill  the  trenches  with  bundles  of  hay,  and 
hus  enter  securely";  and  Appleton  protested  that  th^  old 
Louisbourg  soldiers  laughed  at  the  entrenchments,  and  would 
regard  them  no  more  than  a  beaver-dam.     Nevertheless  the 
British  occupied  Boston  sixteen  months  longer,  and  no  at- 
tempt was  ever  made  to  put  these  threats  into  execution. 

About  the  period  of  Andre's  visit,  towards  the  close  of 
1774,  the  army  at  Boston  was  well  handled.  It  was  bri..- 
aded  under  Percy,  Pigot,  and  Jones,  and  a  field-officer  wifh 
a  hundred  and  fifty  men  guarded  the  lines  on  the  Neck, 
rieir  duties  confined  the  officers  to  circumscribed  bounds  ; 
but  he  beautiful  appearance  of  the  surrounding  country  was 
not  lost  on  them.  "  The  entrance  to  the  harbour,"  wrote 
Captain  (afterwards  Lord)  Harris,  "and  the  view  of  the 
town  of  Boston  from  it,  is  the  most  charming  thing  I  ever 
saw.  .  .   My  tent-door,   about  twenty  yards°from   a 

piece  of  water  nearly  a  mile  broad,  with  the  country  beyond 
.est  beautifully  tumbled  about  in  hills  and  valleys,  rocks 
«nd  woods,  interspersed  with  straggling  villages,  with  here 
and  there  a  spire  peeping  over  the  trees,  and  the  country  of 


GG 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  AN1)R£. 


the  most  charming  green  that  dcHghted  eye  ever  gazed  on. 
Pity  these  infatuated  people  cannot  be  content  to  enjoy  such 
a  country  in  peace  ! "     But  of  these  scenes  beyond  the  lines 
the  troops  could  have  no  nearer  acquaintance.    From  the  au- 
tumn of  1774,  it  was  not  safe  for  any  ministerialist,  military 
or  civil,  to  be  found  out  of  Boston,  where  Gage  remained 
almost  in  a  state  of  siege,  yet  with  few  of  its  discomforts. 
The  Americans  might  cut  off  the  supplies  of  beef  and  mut- 
ton,  and  occasionally  reduce  the  officers  to  salted  diet ;  but 
the  temptation  of  gain  led  them  to  smuggle  in  fresh  pro- 
visions.    All  sorts,  the  officers  wrote,  were  plenty  there,  and 
cheaper  than  in  London,  though  prices  had  risen  with  the 
demjiiid.     «  The  saints"  were  beginning  to  relish  the  money 
spent  in  Boston ;  and  the  only  regret  to  the  spenders  was  the 
enriching  of  a  set  of  people  who,  in  their  eyes,  «  with  the 
most  austere  show  of  devotion,  were  void  of  all  real  religion 
and  honesty,  and  were  reckoned  the  most  arrant  cheats  "and 
hypocrites  on  the  continent."—"  In  some  respects,"  writes  an 
officer,  «  our  camp  mighi  as  well  have  been  pitched  on  Black- 
heath  as  on  Boston  Common ;  the  women  are  very  handsome 
but  like  old  mother  Eve,  very  frail  "  ;  and  in  social  refine- 
ments, the  country  was  a  hundred  years  behind  England. 
In  short,  it  is  clear  that  the  dislike  of  the  provincials  was 
amply  returned  by  the  British,  chafing  at  the  scoffs  which 
they  received,  and  the  indignity  of  remaining  cooped  up  in 
the  presence  of  an  antagonist  whom  they  despised.     For  by 
many  it  was  thought  th  t  the  proceedings  of  congress  were 
designed  merely  to  intimidate  the  merchants  in°  England, 
and  that  America  would  never  be  so  mad  as  to  take  up 
arms.     «  Whenever  it  comes  to  blows,  he  that  can  run  fast- 
est will  think  himself  best  oft,    said  the  officers  at  Boston. 
"  Any  two  regiments  here  ought  to  be  decimated  if  they  did 
not  beat,  in  the  field,  the  whole  force  of  the  Massachusetts 
Province ;   for  though  they  are  numerous,  they  are  but  a 
mere  mob,  without  order  or  discipline,  and  very  awkward  at 
handling  their  arms."    That  it  would  have  to  come  to  blows 


STATE  OF  AFFAIIIS  AT  BOSTON.  C7 

.vas  no^v  perceived.     "  I  see  some  pretty  resolves  from  Con- 
cord     wrote  Admiral  Montagu,  "and  the  proceedings  from 
1  luladelphia  all  seem  to  go  on  well  for  a  Civil  War  »    And 
ngam--"I  dc.ubt   not  but  that  1  shall  hear  Mr.* Samuel 
Adams  IS  hanged  or  shot  before  many  months  are  at  an  end 
I  hope  so  at  least."  *     Nor  was  the  language  in  whieh  the^ 
were  spoken  of  by  the  friends  of  Ameriea  in  England  very 
conchatory.     "A  mere  army  of  .observation,"     ud  Burke- 
''US  only  use  was  to  shelter  the  magistrates  of  m.nisterial  ere' 
atiou    ,  wlule  Chatham  characterized  them  as  "an  impotent 
general  and  a  dishonoured  army,  trusting  solclv  to  the  pickaxe 
and  the  spade  for  security  against  the  just  indignation  of  an 
mjincd  and  an  insulted  people." -"  They  are  an  army  of 
nnpotence,     he  repeated,  in  reference  to  Gage's  inactivity. 
I  do  not  mean  to  censure  his  inactivity  ;  it  is  prudent  and 
necessary  maction.     But  it  is  a  miserable  condition,  where 
disgrace  is  prudence  ;  and  where  it  is  necessary  to  be  con- 
temptible. '     Even  the  political  rhymesters,  with  Lord  John 
lownshend  at  their  head,  found  occasion  to  celebrate  the 
sources  of  ministerial  embarrassment.     Thus  the  latter  ad- 
dresses  the  pious  Dartmouth:  — 

"  The  saints,  alas !  have  waxen  strong ; 
In  vain  your  fasts  and  godly  song 

To  quell  the  rebel  rout ! 
Within  his  lines  skulks  valiant  Gago, 
Like  Yorick's  starling  in  the  cage 

He  cries,  *  I  can't  get  out !  • " 

JJi^  ^f'^  '''"^  ^  ^^'''  ^"'"^  "^  *''^'  Samuel  Adams  was  their  most 
powerful  and  unscrupulous  foe  in  the  province.    In  March  1775  one  of     ! 
wrote  that  when  Dr.  Wa.en  had  pronounced,  in  tfrilc   S  [t  rmee  in" 
ouso^an  oration  in  comn.emoration  of  what  was  absurdly  caLd  a  Mas S" 

eTu   Tf'"^  "'"' ''''  "'^•^""^  "'-'•"^  «»  «r»tor  for  the  next  annfrer 
Bary  of"  the  bloody  and  horrid  massacre  perpetrated  by  Preston'fsoTdi  rs  ^ 
Several  royal  officers  were  present  to  discountenance  the  proceedings    and 

e,    a  v.ry  genteel,  sensible  officer,  dressed  in  gold-lace  r'egimS  '  wTt 
Mue  h,pels,  moved  with  indignation  at  the  insult  offered  tfe  Army  'sh   o 
Cptau,  Preston  had  been  fairly  tried  and  most  honourably  acquiUed  by  a 

fhelh,  7'  trf  '?  ''''''''''  '-^"^^  ^'^^™«'  ^-^  «P«ke  his  sent  «' 
them  m  plam  Enghsh;  the  latter  told  the  officer  he  knew  him,  and  would 


^, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Scioices 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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68 


LIFE   OF   MAJOR   ANDElS. 


.       Cramped  up  thus  „„hin  the  toBm-Iimite,  and  deprived  by 

for  .he,r  lodging  „r  aecommodation,  Ihe  British  were  forced  t 
u,e  many  hbcrtie,  «i.h  the  publie  ediflees  of  the  plaeeTld 
we  may  be  sure  they  were  little  loath  to  eonvert'^theSou"' 
Church  .no  a  r  di„g.sch<K,!.  As  it  had  been  employrby 
he  wh,gs  for  political  lectures,  it  perhaps  posses  J  the  lei 

rel,g,on  and  horses  »m  remind  the  reader  of  Constantinet 
adommg  the  hippodrome  of  his  new  capital  with  the  faraot 
and  saered  serpentine  pillar  of  brass,  which  had  forces 
cc«nmemor,„ed,  at  Delphi,  the  glory  of  Jtothou      LZ 
for  the  creeds  of  others  rarely  clogs  the  action  of  a  Zor 
cither  in  peace  or  in  war.  ^ 

iZw^y^'Tn^""^  """P''  '"'""'^nce  of  all  Gage  did. 
Iheir  Provincial  Congress  even  sent  in  a  committee  to  ex 
amine  the  surgeon's  stores  with  the  commissary  tB^sto' 
that  they  might,  it  would  seem,  learn  what  to  lay  in  for  ttir' 
own  army.     But  there  was  one  sort  of  military  snpriy  ha 
on  either  side,  has  since  the  war  been  less  loudlyTcknowt 

wtslred'^tn""  ";"  'r'^  ^°"«'"-     ^^'0^  "-  «-  r 
Trl  r  ,      ^"T^  "  I-^'-S'on.  the  Massachusetts  C„„. 
gress  had  induced  the  Stockbridge  Indians  to  take  up  the 
hatehet,  and  had  regularly  enn,lled  them  in  its  army.  '^The 
ch^f  sachem,  who  wen.  by  the  euphonious  title  of  JehoiaWn 
Mothskm,  exchanged  sentiments  with  Mr.   Hancock    Id 
inormed  the  Congress  that  if  they  sent  for  him  To 'til 
they  must  expect  him  to  fight  in  his  own  Indian  way  and 
not  m  t  e  English  fashion;  all  the  orders  he  whhel  wL  "„ 
know  who,,  the  enemy  lay.    At  the  same  period,  the  Ze 
cans  were  less  successful  in  treating  with  the  Six  Natfo^ 
the  Penobseojs,  Canghnawagas,  &c.,  with  whom  the  ZS 
had  no  doubt  a  superior  influence.     Their  address  to°the 

'^'^i^H^Zv^Auu^Z''  "" ■"*" °"'°"'"" ■••^"•■'' •  ^™ -^ ' 


Mohawks  i 
induce  the 
increase  of 
of  these  aji 
the  froni:e 
were  cases 
reached,  ar 
as  a  warric 
savages,"  \ 
the  rebels  h 
Indians  do^ 
a  later  day 
dinns  in  tl 
pay  them  I 
vate  that  t 
was  probab 
the  field, 
was  made  ; 
well  as  Er 
the  step: — 


Without 
any  incident 
military  feal 
with  intent  1 
bly  have  ha( 
son  to  thin] 
ruary,  1775, 
expedition  a 
sent  out  in  (] 
of  the  cour 
where  the  w 
an  eye  to  a 
as  having  r 


STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  AT  BOSTON. 


60 


'rived  by 
buildings 
forced  to 
fice;  and 
^e  South 
loyed  by 
the  less 
Jiation  of 
tantine's 
3  famous 
for  ages 
Respect 
^  power 

»ge  did. 

to  ex- 
Boston, 
or  their 
>ly  that, 
eknowl- 
rst  gun 
ts  Con- 
up  the 
.  The 
loiakin 
«,  and 

fight, 
y,  and 
A-dS  to 
Amer- 
ations, 


L  and  I 
he  dis* 


Mohawks  is  very  curious.  One  of  the  motives  urged  to 
induce  the  savage  "to  whet  his  hatchet"  is  t'ue  probable 
increase  of  popery  in  Canada!  It  is  probable  that  most 
of  these  applications  were  occasioned  by  the  wish  to  keep 
the  fronuers  safe,  and  to  weaken  England;  but  there 
were  cases  which  such  considerations  could  scarce  have 
reached,  and  where  the  barbarian  was  employed  simply 
as  a  warrior.  "  We  need  not  be  tender  of  calling  on  the 
savages,"  wrote  Gage  to  Dartmouth,  in  June,  1775,  "as 
the  rebels  have  shown  us  the  example  by  bringing  as  many 
Indians  down  against  us  here  as  they  could  collect."  At 
a  later  day  Washington  was  authorized  to  employ  the  In- 
dians in  the  continental  service  at  his  discretion,  and  to 
pay  them  $100  for  every  officer,  and  $30  for  every  pri- 
vate that  they  captured;  but  the  Massachusetts  Congress 
was  probably  the  first  party  in  the  war  to  bring  them  on 
the  field.  Their  employment  afterwards  by  the  British 
was  made  a  famous  theme  of  reproach,  by  Americans  as 
well  as  Englishmen,  against  Suffolk  who  had  vindicated 
the  step: — 

"  We've  ^ayed  the  virgins,  babes  and  wives, 
With  tomahawks  and  scalping-knives, 
Which  God  and  Nature  gave  us." 

Without  the  means  of  connecting  Andre  directly  with 
any  incident  in  the  occupation  of  Boston,  a  sketch  of  the 
military  features  of  the  place  and  time  has  now  been  given, 
with  intent  to  present  those  points  which  would  most  proba- 
bly have  had  a  chief  interest  to  him.  Were  there  any  rea- 
son to  think  that  he  remained  with  Gage  so  late  as  Feb- 
ruary, 1775,  he  might  be  suspected  of  a  part  in  some  such 
expedition  as  that  of  Brown  and  De  Berniere,  —  two  officers 
sent  out  in  disguise  by  the  general  to  make  a  reconnaissance 
of  the  country,  through  Suffolk  and  Worcester  counties, 
where  the  whigs  had  their  chief  magazines ;  perhaps  with 
an  eye  to  a  descent.  The  spies  were  selected  apparently 
as  having  recently  arrived  from  Canada,  and  therefore  as 


l:-X 


twa 


70 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDR£. 


less  apt  to  be  known  as  royal  officers.     They  returned  from 
a  perilous  and  f^ilsome  journey,  well  supplied  with   plans 
and  SKetches  ;  and  a  very  entertaining  report  of  their  expe- 
dition  is  preserved.     We  may  imagine  how  Andre's  pencil 
and  pen  would  have  been  busied,  not  only  with  the  more 
legitimate  duty  of  the  occasion,  but  with  such  episodes  as 
the  militia  review  at  Buckminster's  tavern,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  an  address  from  the  commander,  "recommending 
patience,  coolness,  and  bravery,  (which  indeed  they  much 
p'jeded,)   particularly  told   them    they  would   always   con- 
quer if  they  did   not   break,   and  recommended  them  to 
charge   us   coolly,  and  wait  for  our  fire,  and   everything 
would  succeed  with   them, -quotes   Ca3sar  and   Pompey. 
Brigadiers  Putnam   and  Ward,   and  all  such  great  men- 
put  them   in  mind  of  Cape   Breton,  and  all  the  battles' 
they,  had  gained  for  his  majesty  in  the  last  war,  and  ob- 
served  that  the  regulars  must  have   been  ruined   but  for 
them.    After  so  learned  and  spirited  an  harangue,  he  dis- 
missed the  parade,  and  the  whole  company  came  into  the 
house  and  drank  till  nine  o'clock,  and  then  returned  to  their 
respective  homes  full  of  pot- valor." 


Condition  ( 
i 

From 

by  sea  to 

most  danj 

since  his 

necessity « 

and  we  mi 

difficulty  ii 

the  northe 

inconsiderj 

path;    but 

perliaps  th 

the  captui 

1774,  by  a 

instruction; 

beat  of  dri 

riedly  and 

awing  the  { 

or,  they  ha 

their  chief 

Such  an  ev 

the  annals  < 

in  connects 

the  range  o 

must  have 

report  upon 

deed  such  U 


CHAPTER  V. 


Condition  of  Canada  in  1775.- OperaU^^  ,„^  ^^ 

Sorel.  -Fall  of  Fort  St.  John,  and  Capture  of  Andrd. 

From  Boston  Andrd  might  have  passed  either  by  land  or 
by  sea  to  Canada.    The  former  route  would  have  been  the 
most  dangerous  for  a  known  adherent  of  the  crown ;   but 
smce  his  arrival  in  America,  there  had  probably  been  no 
necessity  of  his  connection  with  the  army  being  made  public, 
and  we  may  therefore  conjecture,  that  he  encountered  little 
difficulty  m  getting  out  of  the  town,  or  on  his  road  through 
the  northern  parts  of  New  Enguu.d.    There  was  indeed  no 
inconsiderable  share  of  loyalty  among  the  people  along  his 
path;   but  the  whig  element  decidedly  predominated ;  and 
perhaps  the  first  overt  act  of  rebellion  on  the  continent  was 
he  capture  of  the  fort  at  Portsmouth,  on  December  13th, 
1774,  by  a  band  of  three  or  four  hundred  men,  acting  under 
instructions  from  the  Boston  whigs.     They  rushed  in  by 
beat  of  drum,  disregarding  the  four-pounders  that  were  huiv- 
nedly  and  harmlessly  discharged  against  them ;  and  over- 
awing the  garrison  of  six  invalids,  and  binding  the  command- 
cr,  they  hauled  down  the  royal  colors,  and  bore  off  (as  was 
Uieir  chief  design)  all  the  arms  and  ammunition  of  the  post, 
buch  an  event  as  this  ought  to  occupy  an  important  place  in 
Uie  annals  of  our  early  violations  of  existing  laws;  and  taken 
m  connection  with  gll  that  had  elsewhere  transpired  within 
the  range  of  his  observation  since  his  arrival  at  Philadelphia, 
must  have  furnished  Andre  with  matter  for  a  very  sufficient 
report  upon  the  temper  and  designs  of  the  Americans,  if  in- 
deed  such  task  had  been  assigned  him.    All  this,  however,  is 


,if. 


72 


LIFE  OF  MAJOH  ANDR£. 


conjectural.     We  only  know  that  he  at  last  roioined  his  re-i- 
ment,  the  seventh,  in  Canada.  ° 

Sir  Guy  Carleton,  the  military  and  civil  commander  of  the 
province  of  Quebec  (v.hich  comprehended  both  Canadas) 
had  arrived  there  in  September,  1774.     He  was  a  man  of 
clear  and  extensive  judgment,  great  administrative  faculties, 
large  experience,  and  winning  manners ;  and  though  turned 
of  fifty,  an  active  and  skilful  soldier.     With  the  character  of 
the  Canadians  he  was  well  acquainted,  and  the  extraordinary 
official  powers  that  he  was  vested  with  appear  to  have  been 
used  so  sagaciously  as  to  procure  most  important  advantages 
for  England,  without  alienating  the  hearts  of  the  people 
Among  our  own  leaders  there  was  an  opinion  that  it  was 
lucky  for  America  that  the  ministry  should  have  so  far  gone 
out  of  their  way,  —  as  by  a  private  arrangement  with  him  — 
to  have  given  to  Howe  and  Burgoyne  the  command  of  'the 
royal  arms ;  for  the  appointment,  by  the  customs  of  the  ser- 
vice,  pertained  to  Sir  Guy,  and  it  is  very  certain  that  he 
would  have  made  a  better  chief  than  either  of  his  substitutes. 
He  seems,  too,  to  have  been  a  supporter  of  the  cabinet  •  yet 
his  praises  were  sounded  by  their  staunchest  opponents,'  and 
the  Duke  of  Richmond  passed  a  most  glowing  eulogium  upon 
him  at  this  period  in  the  House  of  Ljrds.     In  his  present 
position  he  had  the  advantage  of  some  familiarity  with  the 
patriots  who  were  shortly  to  be  brought  against  him.     Mont- 
gomery and  St.  Clair  had  fought  by  his  side  when  Mont- 
calm  fell,  and  as  quartermaster  of  Wolfe's  array  he  must 
have  had  some  knowledge  of  Charles  Lee  and  Putnam,  of 
Starke,   Schuyler,   and   Wooster.     Such  was   the  General 
under  whose  command  Andr^  had  first  experience  of  actual 
war. 

The  people  of  Canada  at  this  date,  if  not  so  warmly  at- 
tached to  the  British  government  as  a  few  years  sooner  they 
had  been  to  that  of  France,  were  at  least  not  generally  dis- 
contented. The  provisions  of  the  Quebec  act  gave  them 
httle  uneasiness.     Unused  to  democratical  forms  of  govern- 


CONDITION  OIi^  CANADA  IN  1775.  73 

ment,  they  did  not  share  in  the  anger  of  the  whigs  in  En-- 
land  and  the  more  southern  colonies,  at  a  law  which  cave 
them  no  part  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs,  while 
the  free  toleration  of  the  Catholic  religion  was  necessarily 
^teful  to  a  population  that  was  Catholic  almost  to  a  man 
But  our  leaders  in  Massachusetts  and  elsewhere  did  not 
rehsh  the  idea  of  going  into  a  war  with  England  without 
strivmg  to  make  allies  rather  than  enemies  of  a  country  that 
lay  m  such  dangerous  contiguity  to  their  own;  and  secret 
emissaries  were  already  among  the  Canadians.     In  further- 
ance  of  this  end  congress  sent  forth  to  them  an  able  address, 
which,  translated  into  French  and  distributed  in  manuscript 
produced  a  good  effect  among  that  people ;  but  it  unfortu ' 
nutely  inspired  some  of  their  principal  men  to  examine  the 
address  to  the  people  of  England,  made  at  the  same  time. 
Ihis  document,  while  it  did  not  flatter  the  civil  capabilities 
of  the  Canadians,  inveighed  with  great  warmth  a-ainst  the 
countenance  pariiament  had  given  to  their  creed ;  which  was 
declared  to  be  the  disseminator  of  impiety,  persecution,  and 
murder  over  all  the  worid.     These  passages  provoked  the 
violent  resentment  of  the  readers,  who  openly  cursed  "the 
perfidious,  double-faced  congress,"  and  hesitated  no  loncrer 
in  renewing  their  allegiance  to  King  George.     This  conse- 
quence should  have  been  foreseen.     «I  beg  leave,"  wrote 
over  an  English  friend  to  America,  in  January,  177.5    « to 
caution  you  against  any  strictures  on  the  Roman  Catholic 
religion,  as  it  will  be  much  more  advantageous  for  you  to 
conciliate  to  you  the  Canadians,  than  to  exasperate  or  rouse 
the  people  here;  let  us  alone  to  do  that."     The  few  active 
sympathizers  that  congress  possessed  in  Canada  were  chiefly 
new-comers,  whose  zeal  was  more  abundant  than  their  dis- 
cretion.   On  the  day  fixed  for  the  Quebec  act  to  go  into 
Torce,  (May  1,  1775,)  the  king's  bust  on  the  parade  at  Mont- 
real was  found  to  have  been  blackened  during  the  night,  and 
adorned  with  a  rosary  of  potatoes  and  a  wooden  cmss,  to 
which  this  label  was  added :  Le  Pope  du  Canada,  ou  h  sol 


^'si 


74 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


Anghis.     This  insult  greatly  exasperated  the  government  as 
well  as  the  people. 

Meanwhile,  matters  with  Gage  were  coming  to  a  crisis 
and  Carleton  left  no  store  unturned  to  put  his  own  govern-' 
ment  m  condition  to  render  every  service  in  its  power  to  the 
crown.  He  seems  indeed  to  have  for  a  time  meditated  a 
march  upon  Boston,  and  two  officers  were  sent  out  with  pri- 
vate  instructions  to  explore  a  military  route.  But  the  enter- 
pnse  of  the  Americans,  and  the  fortunes  of  war,  soon  gave 
him  abundant  occupation  at  home. 

The   course  which  an  army  would,  it  was  thought,  be 
obliged  to  follow  in  passing  between  Canada  and  the  other 
colonies,  was  well  known.      Lake  Champlain,  commencing 
near  the  upper  waters  of  the  Hudson,  and  stretching  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  to  the  north,  pours  its  waters 
through  the  Sorel  into  the  St.  Lawrence,  between  Montreal 
and  Quebec.     This  lake  was  commanded  by  the  fortresses 
of  Ticonderoga,  erected  near  its  communication  with  Lake 
George,  and  of  Crown  Point,  situated  farther  to  the  north. 
At  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Sorel,  Fort  Chambly  was 
erected,  and  twelve  miles  to  the  southward  was  the  post  of 
bt.  Johns.     To  garrison  these  places  would,  in  time  of  war 
demand  large  forces  ;  but  in  peace  they  were  of  course  held 
by  slender  guards.     In  fact,  the  only  troops  that  Carleton 
now  iiad  in  Lower  Canada  were  the  7th  and  26th  recriments 
numbering  717  men,  all  told.     The  8th  regiment^was  in 
Upper  Canada;  and  all  were  broken  up  into  various  and 
scattered  detachments. 

As  Ticonderoga  was  known  to  contain  large  military  stores 
of  which  we  were  very  destitute,  it  ^as  concerted  to  seize  this' 
post  so  soon  as  hostilities  should  commence.  A  secret  emis- 
sary of  the  Boston  Committee  appears  to  have  so  mana-ed 
the  affair  that  when,  on  the  10th  of  May,  three  weeks  after  °the 
Lexington  fight,  he  accompanied  the  Americans  in  a  ni-ht- 
surprise  of  the  fortress,  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  gates 
closed.     A  wicket,  however,  stood  conveniently  open,  and 


giving    t 

"with  ui 

expressec 

risoned  tl 

pretence  j 

the  sentrj 

by  any  of 

tween  two 

in  the  cou 

by  Colone 

The  An 

they  were 

Johns  wei 

or  destroy( 

the  secret  i 

was  struck 

way  to  Tic 

reason  to  s 

of  one  hun 

and  was  b 

foil.     To  tl 

Chambly. 

fhen  at  St. 

British  resi 

So  long  i 

knew  that  j 

therefore  at 

quarter.    O 

the  defence 

the  7th  and 

artillery  sen 

the  ship-car 

The  summe 

regain  the  cc 

Johns.     Thi; 

riverside,  ani 


m 


OPKUATtONS  ON  LAKE  CUMPLAtN  AND  THK  SO«K,..    7J 

giving  .he  Indian  war-whoop,  ,ho  a,saih,n.s  pound  in 
"wuh  uncommon  rancour,"  ,«  Ethan  Allen,  their  dJf 
cxp„,.ed  it  The  forty-four  men  of  the  26  h  Jho tf' 
r»ned  the  place,  were  compelled  to  surrender  wi  h  hardH 
pretence  a.  rea.stanee,  beyond  the  .napping  of  his  flreloek  bv 
he  sentry,  and  t  would  seem  that  the  oMy  injury  re  tej 
by  any  of  the  vetors  wa,  in  consequence  of  a  dLute  be 
.ween  two  of  the  leaders  as  ,o  their  conduct  in  the  busfne,, 

;  Jsrerrir-  ^'"""'  ■=""»"  -  "'-tiiykired-.- 
..  ":er  °  c:::r;r  r  r  ""r™-""' 

T  I  .  .         *^*^"wn  roint,  t>kenesborou"^h    anrl   Sf 

or  uctroyed,  and  a  few  more  soldiers  taken  prisoners  «,„ 
the  secret  of  the  expedition  had  leaked  out  blve  the  bfow 
was  struck,  and  large  reinforcements  ^re  actually  „„  tuZ 
way  to  Tieonderoga  when  it  was  captured.  There  is  even 
.eason  o  suppose  that  Andre  was  of  the  party.  I  consS 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  with  si'pieces  of  Znon 
»  <!  <^.s  „,  twenty  miles  fi-om  St.  Johns'when  tirpTaeJ 
fe  I.    lo  these  appear  to  have  been  joined  forty  more  from 

then  at  S(.  Johns.    He  retreated  with  triflin.r  loss  and  th. 
Bntish  resumed  possession  of  the  post.  ° 

So  long  as  he  retained  the  command  of  the  Sowl  r..ri.. 
new  that  a  serious  invasion  of  Canada  wa    nn^'eW  *S: 
therefore  at  once  set  about  strengthening  his  hands  in  .r 
,uar.er.    Over  five  hundred  rcgnfars  were  In  gl  he  lit 

tr^lTAi,^'^'"^'  ""'  *"•  J'"'"Mmw„  fhieflytom 
•lie  7th  and  26.h  regiments,  with  a  few  fix,m  the  naval  and 
-Mlery  services;  and  a  number  of  Canadian  levier^d  ^ll 
U.0  8h,p-caT,en,ers  from  Quebec,  were  joined  wW,  Jhem 
The  summer  was  passed  in  building  vessels  wherewith  » 
^n  ".0  control  of  Lake  Champlai^  and  in  fort^sT 

mc,„de,  and,  so  long  as  .t  could  hold  out,  was  thought  to 


7C 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDR]fi. 


be  a  perfect  snft'Kuard  against  any  attempt  on    Cliambly 
The  latter  fort  was  therefore  but  weakly  garrisoned,  and  an- 
pears  to  have  been  regarded  by  the  English  as  a  phice  of 
deposit  for  the  *ulk  of  their  stores,  and  one  to  wliieh  thoy 
might  safely  resort  should  the  other  work  become  untenabk". 
The  provisions  for  St.  Johns  were  even  kept  there,  to  be 
issued  forth  from  time  to  time  as  wanted.     By  the  end  of 
August,  two  vessels   were   nearly  ready   to   rec(ave  their 
masts,  and  two  strong  square  forts  erected.      These  were 
about  a  hundred  yards  apart,  connected  towards  the  water  by 
a  small  breastwork.     A  ditch,  fed  from  the  river,  and  stron- 
pickets,  or  chevaux-de-frise,  encompassed  them  about ;  and 
they  were  well  supplied  with  artillery.     The  hesitancy  of 
congress  to  set  on  foot  an  invasion  of  a  neighboring  province, 
gave  the  English  unusual  facilities  for  carrying  on  their  toil 
uninterruptedly.     That  body  had  indeed  approved  of  the  pri- 
vate enterprise  whioh  wrested  Ticonderoga  from  the  kinc^'s 
hands;  but  it  was  not  until  June  that  it  took  steps  to  provide 
for  a  continental  army  and  to  appoint  its  generals.     On  the 
27th,  a  few  days  later,  Major-General  Schuyler  was  directed 
to  repair  to  Ticonderoga  and,  if  expedient,  to  invade  Canada  • 
but  It  was  not  before  the  30th  that  Articles  of  War  for  the' 
government  of  its  soldiery  were  actually  adopted.     A  num- 
ber of  Americans  were  already  assembled  at  Ticonderoga 
when  Schuyler  arrived  there  on  the  18th  July,  and  many 
more  came  in  during  the  summer;  so  that  towards  its  close 
upwards  of  2000  men  were  expected  to  move  to  the  Sore! 
But,  as  may  be  easily  believed,  this  force  was  stronr^er  in 
numbers  than  effectiveness.     Drawn  from  different  colonies, 
unaccustomed  to  serve  together,  impatient  of  discipline,  their 
ranks  were  filled  with  jealousies  and  disputes.*     The  most 

end  rf?r*r  "  o'clock  last  night  I  arrived  at  the  landing-place,  the  north 
end  of  Lake  George,  a  post  occupied  by  a  captain  and  one  hundred  men. 
A  sentmel,  on  be.ng  informed  I  was  in  the  boat,  quitted  his  post  to  go  and 
awake  the  guard,  consisting  of  three  men,  in  which  he  had  no  succL  I 
un  "i^'f  '^""^  *"  another,  a  sergeant's  guard.  Here  the  sentinel 
challenged,  but  suffered  me  to  come  up  to  him,  the  whole  guard,  like  the 


OPERATIONS   ON  LAKE  CirA^fPLAIN  AND  THE  SOKEL.  77 

undaunted  courage  cannot  long  supply  the  lack  of  subordina- 
tion  in  a  soldier ;  mid  this  defect  seems  to  have  been  one  .^reat 
cause  of  Schuyler's  trouble.  He  alleges  that  even  from  aV'- 
tisan  so  valiant  and  important  as  Ethan  Allen,  he  was  obli-ed 
to  exact  a  solemn  promise  of  proper  demeanor  before  he^re- 
luctantly  gave  him  permission  to  attend  the  army.  Nor  was 
desertion  unknown :  «  We  held  a  court-martial  at  every  other 
stage,"  wrote  a  New  York  officer,  "and  gave  several  of  iho 
unruly  ones  Moses's  Law,  i.  e.  thirty-nine." 

Apprehensive  that  the  enemy's  vessels    would  be  ready 
for  service  before  the  full  force  with  which  he  desi-i.ed  en- 
tenng  Canada  could  be  brought  up,  Schuyler  appeared  be- 
fore St.  Johns,  witli  upwards  of  1000  men,  on  the  6th  of 
September.     A  landing  was  made  within  two  miles  of  the 
place,  and  after  some  brisk  skirmishing  the  troops  halted  for 
the  night.     But  no  Canadians  repaired  to  their  aid,  as  had 
been  hoped  for,  which,  with  other  prudential  considerations, 
induced  the  American  leaders  to  return  on  the  7th  to  the 
Isle-aux-Noix,  not  far  distant.     On  the  night  of  the  10th  a 
detachment  of  800  men,  under  Montgoraeiy,  again  landed 
near  the  fort ;  but  the  noise  which  a  part  made  in  marchin- 
through  the  tangled  woods  occasioned  a  panic  among  the  rest° 
from  which  there  was  no  recovering  them ;  and  it  was  neces- 
sary, on  the  next  day,  to  lead  them  back,  after  a  very  triflin- 
skirmish.     On  the  17th,  however,  they  were  once  more  em° 
barked,  and,  Schuyler's  illness  preventing  his  accompanying 
them,  the  subsequent  conduct  of  the  siege  devolved  upon 
Montgomery.     It  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  strength  of  his 
forces,  by  reason  of  the  numbers  who  were  constantly  sent 
back  to  Crown  Point  on  the  sick-list;  but  it  was  probably 

first,  in  the  soundest  sleep.  With  a  penknife  only  I  could  have  cut  off  both 
guards  and  then  have  set  fire  to  the  block-house,  destroyed  the  stores,  and 
starved  the  people  here.  .  .  .  But  I  hope  to  get  the  better  of  this  inattenlion. 
the  officers  and  men  are  all  good-looking  people,  and  decent  in  their  de- 
portment, and  I  really  believe  will  make  good  soldiers  as  soon  as  I  can  get 
the  better  of  this  nonchalance  of  theirs.  Bravery,  I  believe,  they  are  far 
from  wanting."  -  Schuyler  to  Washington,  July  18,  1775.  ^ 


'      1- 


78 


LIFE  OF  RFAJOIi  ANDRfi. 


not  fur  from   2000  men.     A  party  was  stationed  between 
Chambly  and  St.  Johns  to  interrupt  the  communication  ;  and 
though  it  was  routed  by  an  expedition  from  the  fort,  subse- 
quent reinforcements  arrived  to  the  Americans,  and  on  the 
18th  the  British  were  in  turn  compelled  to  fly.     The  invest- 
ment continued,  but  bad  weather  and  the  feebleness  of  the 
beleaguering  army  retarded  its  progress  not  a  little.     The 
fort  was  held  by  Major  Preston,  of  the  26Hi,  with  upwards 
of  500  men ;  among  whom  was  a  large  part  of  the  7tli,  with 
Andre  as  their  quartermaster.     Major  Stopford  of  the  7tli, 
with  nearly  100  of  that  regiment,  commanded  at  Chambly! 
In  Montgomery's  opinion  it  was  necessary  t«  erect  certain 
works  to  insure  the  reduction  of  St.  Johns ;  but  he  had  to 
do,  as  he  soon  acknowledged,  with  « troops  who  carrier!  the 
spirit  of  freedom  into  the  field,  and  thought  for  themselves." 
His  ideas  were  not  approved  of  by  his  inferiors,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  lay  the  plan  aside.     This  is  but  an  instance  of 
the  crude  organization  of  our  army  at  this  early  day.    Woos- 
ter,  the  third  in  rank  in  that  region,  held  command  of  his 
Connecticut  men  as  a  colonial   and  not  a  continental  regi- 
ment, explaining  that  they  were  allies  of  the  other  Ameri- 
cans, but   soldiers  of  Connecticut ;   and  Schuyler  says  that 
it  was  with  no  little  difficulty  that  any  useful  service  was 
at  length  obtained  from   them.     With  others  of  his  offi- 
cers, Montgomery's  relations  were  extremely  embarrasoing. 
Many  of  them  reported  directly  to  their  respective  colonial 
authorities,  and  of  course  commented  freely  on  all  that  oc- 
curred.    The  ill  effects  of  such  a  syrtem  are  evident ;  but 
there  was  then  no  help  for  it.     A  New  Hampshire  officer 
informs  the  government  that  he  alone  has  the  execution  of 
any  successful  measure ;  the  failures  are  due  to  Allen  and 
others.     Another  officer,  a  captain,  kept  up  a  correspondence 
with  Governor  Trumbull  of  Connecticut,  in  which,  professing 
his  own  piety,  he  feels  called  upon  to  complain  of  the  pro" 
fanity  of  head-quarters  ;  Montgomery,  besides,  is  no  general, 
though  he  may  indeed  possess  courage.     On  the  other  hand, 


courage  v 

have  (bun 

Schuyler 

name  as 

with  powi 

his  trial,  i 

dination,  \ 

to  the  saci 

as  to  tho 

sidered  bj 

period.   It 

irksome  ui 

to  enable  i 

thing  with 

and  anxioi 

pass  that  I 

rather,  insi 

he  should  i 

their  own  < 

with  the  di 

longer  "  to 

service,"  ai 

for  similai 

should  hav 

foreseen  wl 

soldiers  in  ( 

der  them  j 

Both  partie 

war.    The 

opponents, 

labored  und 

an  enterpri 

James  Livii 

cause,  was 

turn  to  affai 

a  detachme 


SIEGE  OF  FORT  ST.  JOHN. 


79 


courage  was  tlio  very  quality  which  Montgomery  seems  to 
have  found  hicking  in  some  of  his  follower.-.     He  rojiorts  to 
Schuyler  the  cowardly  conduct  of  an  oflicer  of  the  same 
name  as  this  critical  writer,  and  adds :  "  Were  I  furnished 
with  power  for  that  purpose,  he  should  not  live  an  hour  after 
his  trial,  if  the  court  condemn  him."    This  spirit  of  insuhor- 
dination,  which  indutjed  Montgomery's  army  to  prefer  mutiny 
to  the  sacrifice  to  his  positive  commands  of  their  own  opinion 
as  to  tho  best  way  of  besieging  St.  Johns,  must  be  duly  con- 
sidered by  every  one  who  follows  our  military  history  at  this 
period.   It  prevailed  widely ;  and  the  purest  patriotism,  and  the 
irksome  use  of  flattery  and  persuasion,  were  too  often  needed 
to  enable  a  general  to  retain  his  commission  or  to  effect  anyl 
thing  with  his  troops.     Montgomery  was  wearied  of  his  place, 
and  anxious  to  get  rid  of  it;  for  matters  soon  came  to  such  a 
pass  that  he  was  obliged  to  inform  his  chief  subordinates  ^or, 
rather,  insubordinates),  that  unless  they  would  obey  his  orders 
he  should  at  once  abandon  the  leadership  and  leave  them  to 
their  own  devices.     At  the  same  period  Schuyler,  disgusted 
with  the  disorders  that  he  could  not  subdue,  was  resolved  no 
longer  « to  coax,  to  wheedle,  and  even  to  lie,  to  carry  on  the 
service,"  and  made  up  his  mind  to  retire ;  while  Washington, 
for  similar  causes,  declared   that  no  earthly  consideration 
should  have  wooed  him  to  accept  the  chief  command,  had  he 
foreseen  what  was  before  him.     Yet  there  were  many  good 
soldiers  in  our  ranks,  and  discipline  only  was  required  to  ren- 
der them  all  such.     Meanwhile  the  siege  went  on  slowly. 
Both  parties  suff'ered  from  want  of  sufficient  necessaries  of 
war.    The  garrison  fought  often  knee-deep  in  mire,  and  their 
opponents,  in  addition  to  the  injudicious  nature  of  their  works, 
labored  under  a  deficiency  of  ammunition.    At  this  juncture,' 
an  enterprise,  suggested  by  some  Canadians  whom  Major 
James  Livingston  had  prevailed  on  to  espouse  the  American 
cause,  was  crowned  with  success,  and  gave  an  unexpected 
turn  to  affliirs.     With  300  of  them,  and  in  cooperation  with 
a  detachment  from  Montgomery's  army,  he  attacked  Fort 


.  >i 


80 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


Chambly.     On  the  18th  of  October,  Major  Stopford  of  the 
7th,  with  nearly  100  of  his  men,  surrendered  tliis  post,  in 
which,  as  in  a  place  of  security,  were  lodged  not  only  the 
stores  for  St.  Johns,  but  the  women  and  children   of  the 
troops  that  defended  it,  and  to  which  the  beleaguered  garri- 
son  already  meditated  a  retreat.    It  may  be  noted  that  Liv- 
ingston, whose  conduct  on  this  occasion  so  greatly  promoted 
the  event  that  reduced  Andre  to  captivity,  was  the  same  offi- 
cer  who,  a  few  yenrs  later,  was  indirectly  the  cause  of  his 
final  and   fatal  arrest.     "  The   capture  of  Chamblee  occa- 
sioned many  others,"  wrote  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  long  after. 
Lamb  also,  the  artillery  officer  at  West  Point  on  this  last  oc- 
casion, now  pointed  the  guns  against  the  walls  within  which 
Andre  fought.    The  colors  of  the  7th  were  among  the  spoils 
taken  at  Chambly.     They  were  sent  to  Philadelphia;  and 
their  keeping,  after  presentation  to  congress,  being  probably 
confided  to  the  President,  they  were,  wrote  John  Adams  to 
his  wife,  «  hung  up  in  Mrs.  Hancock's  chamber  with  great 
splendor  and  eleguuce."*    These  were  the  first  standards 
captured  ;n  this  war. 

The  garrison  of  St.  Johns  was  now  put  on  half  allowance, 
and  the  siege  was  more  vigorously  conducted.  Montgomery's 
men  seem  at  length  to  have  permitted  his  views  to  be  carried 
out ;  and  on  the  29th  October,  a  battery  was  erected,  under 
the  fire  of  the  fort,  on  an  eminence  to  the  north  which  entire- 
ly commanded  it.  On  the  next  day  ten  guns  and  mortars  were 

*  The  7th  lost  its  colors  again  before  the  war  was  ended.  One  of  these, 
taken  at  Yorktown,  is  preserved,  as  the  gift  of  Washington,  at  Alexandria' 
Va.  It  is  of  heavy  twilled  silk,  seventy-two  inches  long  by  sixty-four  wide, 
and  presents  the  red  and  white  crosses  on  a  blue  field.  In  the  centre,  in 
silk  embroidery,  is  the  crown  above  a  rose  surrounded  by  a  garter  with  the 
legend,  Honi  soil  qui  mal  ypense.  The  royal  warrant  of  July  1, 1751,  pre- 
scribes for  the  7th :—"  In  the  centre  of  their  colours  the  Rose  within  the 
Garter,  and  the  Crown  over  it:  the  White  Horse  in  the  corners  of  the  sec- 
ond Colour."  This  colour  now  also  bears  by  royal  warrant  the  words:  — 
Martinique,  Talavera,  Albuhera,  Badr-Joz,  Salamanca,  Vittoria,  Pyrenees, 
Orthes,  Peninsula,  Toulouse ;  —  memorials  of  victories  that  may  well  obliter- 
ate the  scenes  of  America. 


m> 


mounted 

and  assa 

to  Carle 

relieve  1 

intrenchi 

a  sally  f 

party  wa 

retreat  ti 

new  batt 

incessant 

from  the 

flag  to  P 

defeat,  ar 

post  shou 

ising  to  0 

days.     T 

prisoner  ( 

ration  fro 

honors  of 

baggage,  ^ 

and  on  tl 

ti-oops  we; 

said  Mon 

The  office 

were  to  be 

not  to  be  i 

case  his  p 

cans ;  and 

place  of  ( 

master  fro 

to  settle  its 

this  duty  ; 

taken  at  ( 

with  most 

at  liberty. 

in  the  defei 

5 


CAPTURE  OF  ANDR6. 


81 


brd  of  the 
is  post,  in 
t  only  the 
3n  of  the 
red  garri- 
that  Liv- 
promoted 
same  offi- 
ise  of  his 
i\6e  oeca- 
3ng  after, 
is  last  oc- 
bin  which 
the  spoils 
>hia;  and 
probably 
^dams  to 
ith  great 
standards 

llowance, 
gomery's 
3  carried 
id,  under 
h  entire- 
ars  were 

5  of  these, 
lexandria, 
four  wide, 
centre,  in 
r  with  the 
1751,  pre- 
i^ithin  the 
if  the  sec- 
words  :  — 
Pyrenees, 
11  obliter- 


raounted,  and   preparations  made  for  a  general   cannonade 
and  assault.     Tidings  of  affairs  had  however  been  conveyed 
to  Carleton,  who  marched  with  a  strong  force  of  irregulars  to 
relieve  the  place.     His  design  was  to  attack  the  American 
intrenchments,  while  Preston  at  the  same  time  should  make 
a  sally  from  within.     But  on  the  30th  October,  Sir  Guy's 
p»irly  was  intercepted  and  defeated,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
retreat  to  Montreal.     On  the  evening  of  November  1st,  the 
new  battery  and  the  old  four-gun  work  having  kept  up  an 
incessant  fire  through  the  day,  which  was  briskly  returned 
from  the  forty-eight  pieces  of  the  fort,  Montgomery  sent  a 
flag  to  Preston  with  one  of  the  prisoners  taken  at  Carleton's 
defeat,  and  a  request  that,  since  relief  was  now  hopeless,  the 
post  should  be  surrendered.     To  this  Preston  replied,  prom- 
ising to  offer  proposals  if  relief  should  not  appear  within  four 
days.    These  terms  were  peremptorily  declined.     Another 
prisoner  of  superior  rank  was  sent  to  Preston,  with  a  decla- 
ration from  Montgomery,  that  the  only  means  to  insure  the 
honors  of  war  for  the  garrison  and  the  safety  of  the  officers' 
baggage,  was  to  surrender  at  once.    The  Englishman  yielded, 
and  on  the  2nd,  articles  of  capitulation  were  signed.     The 
troops  were  allowed  all  the  honors  of  war.     "  This  was  due," 
said  Montgomery,  « to  their  fortitude  and  perseverance." 
The  officers  were  to  retain  their  side-arms ;  their  firearms 
were  to  be  kept  in  pledge ;  the  effects  of  the  garrison  were 
not  to  be  withheld  unless  a  prisoner  should  escape,  in  which 
case  his  property  was  to  be  given  as  plunder  to  the  Ameri- 
cans ;  and  the  prisoners  were  to  pass  into  Connecticut,  or  such 
place  of  detention  as  congress  might  provide.     A  quarter- 
master from  each  corps  was  also  to  go  on  parole  to  Montreal 
to  settle  its  business  and  bring  up  its  baggage.     For  the  7tli, 
this  duty  fell  upon  Andre ;  seven  of  its  officers  had  been 
taken  at  Chambly,  and  thirteen  more  were  now  captives 
with  most  of  its  privates.     About  sixty  men  only  remained 
at  liberty.     These  had  been  retained  by  Carleton,  and  shared 
in  the  defence  of  Quebec.    At  9  a.  m.,  on  the  3rd  November, 


5 


H,^ 


82 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


1775,  the  Americans  entered  St.  Johns ;  and  the  English,  to 
the  number  of  six  hundred,  marching  out  and  grounding  their 
arms  on  a  plain  to  the  westward,  became  prisoners  of  war. 
They  were  immediately  embarked  for  Ticonderoga. 

The  principal  losses  to  either  side  during  this  siege  seem 
to  have  been  by  desertions.     Of  our  people,  but  nine  were 
kiUed,  and  four  or  five  wounded.    "  You  know  we  take  good 
care  of  ourselves,"  wrote  Montgomery.     Nor  could  the  Brit- 
ish casualties  have  been  very  numerous,  since  the  defence 
was  conducted  with  hardly  an  attempt  at  a  sortie ;  though 
such  measures  might  have  been  very  advantageous  to  the 
besieged.      But  for  the  capture  of  Chambly,  and  the  final 
adoption  of  our  general's  plan  of  investment,  the  fort  would 
not  have  fallen  at  all,  either  by  assault  or  starvation ;  for 
assault  was  only  practicable  from  that  quarter  whence  our 
men  had  at  first  shrunk,  with  an  impression  that  they  were 
to  be  betrayed  and  trepanned  under  the  guns  of  the  place. 
Besides,  at  the  time  of  surrender,  very  many  of  our  troops 
were  importunate  to  go  home.     Their  enlistments  were  near- 
ly  out,  and  they  were  utterly  unaccustomed  to  the  severities 
of  military  life,  or  to  prolonged  absence  from  their  families. 
Few  indeed  of  the  hundreds  of  sick  that  were  sent  to  Ticon^ 
deroga  ever  returned  to  camp.     «  The  greater  part  of  them 
are  so  averse  to  going  back,  that  they  pretend  sickness  and 
skulk  about;  and  some,  even  officers, go  away  without  leave; 
nor  can  I  get  the  better  of  them,"  wrote  Schuyler  to  con' 
gress.     Had  the  siege  endured  much  longer,  probably  half 
of  our  army  would  have  retired.     As  it  was,  Howe,  at  Bos- 
ton, had  little  idea  that  all  was  not  going  on  well  on  the  Sore), 
till  the  Americans  furnished  him  with  a  newspaper  account 
of  our  victories.     On  the  14th  November,  Washington  pub- 
lished  the  grateful  intelligence  to  the   army  beleaguering 
Howe:  and  the  countersign  for  the  day  was  "  Montgomery"" 
the  parole,  «  St.  Johns."    A  thousand  copies  of  the  account 
of  the  capture  were  printed  by  congress  for  distribution  in 
England. 


Andre's  Ca 
—  Andrd 
Exchangi 
the  Open 

The  St 

from  the  , 

observed. 

time,  to  d 

less.    The 

rather  mc 

gage,  prot 

November 

the  same  j 

striving  to 

frain  from 

like,  from 

enemy's  hs 

with  the  1 

army  had 

goraery  wi 

"I  wish 

gentlemen  t 

of  the  worl 

reform  disc 

ble.    The 

tillery  Con 

because  I  y, 

Johns.     I  y 

disgraced  tl 

lation,  for  tl 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Andre's  Captivity.  -Detained  in  Pennsylvania.  -  Treatm^nf  .e p.- 
-Andre's  Relations  with  the  Americans  !1  His  Lette™  fn  M     p    "'"• 
Exchange  and  Promotion.  -  Sir  Charles  Grev       st  w        A-  ?""'•"" 
the  Operations  on  the  Hudson.  ^'  ~  ^"  ^^'"'^  ^''"^"  ""*^ 

The  stipulation  that  their  effects  should  not  be  withheld 
fi-om  the  garnson  of  St.  Johns  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
observed      It  but  was  too  customary  on  both  sides,  at  thi! 

:r  ThtTrt  T-'^'T  ''  *^^  ^-q"-'-<J  and  defence, 
le  s.    The  British  being  better  disciplined,  did  their  spiriting 
rather  more  gently  than  our  troops.     The  American  ba^! 
gage,  protected  by  the  capitulation  of  Fort  Washington  Tn 
November,  1776  was  only  partially  plundered ;  whii:  about 
the  same  period  Washington,  by  flogging  and  cashiering,  was 
strmng  to  make  the  Nyms  and  Bardolphs  of  our  ranks  ve- 
fram  from  stealing  large  mirrors,  women's  raiment,  and  the 
hke,  froni  private  houses,  to  prevent  their  faUing  into  the 
enemy  s  hands.     It  was  with  difficulty  that  AndrcS  got  away 
with  the  baggage  of  the  7th  from  Montreal,  whither  our 
army  had  marched.     On  the  13th  November,  1775,  Mont- 
gomery writes  to  Schuyler  :  — 

"I  wish  some  method  could  be  fallen  upon  of  en.ra.in. 
genlen^en  to  serve;  a  point  of  honour  and  more  kno^le^: 
of  the  world,  to  be  found  in  that  class  of  men,  would  greatly 
reform  discipline,  and  render  the  troops  much  more  tracta- 
be.     The  officers  of  the  1st  regiment  of  Yorkers,  and  Ar- 
illery  Company,  were  very  near  a  mutiny  the  other  day 
because  I  would  not  stop  the  clothing  of  the  garrison  of  St. 
Johns.    I  would  not  have  sullied  my  own  reputation,  nor 
disgraced  the  Continental  arms,  by  such  a  breach  of  capitu- 
lation, for  the  universe;  there  was  no  driving  it  into  their 


11  ipi 


I'.f 


\ 


ill  ; 

iiiiii:''i 


i 


84 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDU6. 


noddles,  that  the  clothing  was  really  the  property  of  the  sol- 
dier,  that  he  had  paid  for  it,  and  that  every  regiment,  in  this 
country  especially,  saved  a  year's  clothing,  to  have  decent 
clothes  to  wear  on  particular  occasions." 

But  there  were,  first  or  last,  other  and  less   scrupulous 
hands  to  be  met ;  which,  as  they  did  not  hesitate  to  spoil  the 
goods  of  congress,  were  probably  not  idle  among  those  of  a 
captive  enemy,  protected  only  by  a  guard  of  honor.    «I 
have  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  Americans,"  wrote  Andre 
to  a  friend  at  home,  «  and  stript  of  every  thing,  except  the 
picture  of  Honora,  which  I  concealed  in  my  mouth.     Pre- 
serving  that,  I  yet  think  myself  fortunate."  ♦     At  Ticonde- 
roga  the  officers  of  the  7th  and  26th  applied  to  the  Americans 
for  blankets  and  shoes  for  their  men,  who  were  almost  bare- 
footed;  but  there  were  none  to  spare.     Schuyler,  however, 
who  had  received  the  hospitalities  of  the  26th  when  travel' 
ling  in  Ireland,  advanced  means  to  the  officers  of  both  regi- 
ments  to  supply  these  necessities.     They  were  then  sent, 
under  a  guard  of  a  hundred  men,  for  Connecticut ;  where' 
the  Committee  of  Safety  had  provided  for  their  distribution, 
and  for  the  assignment  of  the  privates  as  laborers.     This' 
was  a  practice  with  our  government  through  the  contest,  as 
it  was  afterwards  of  Napoleon's ;  but  it  was  warmly  resented 
by  the  English.     Gage,  especially,  complained  that  the  pris- 

*  Extract  pom  Miss  Seward's  Will:  ~  "  The  mezzotinto  engraving  from 
a  Picture  of  Romney,  Avhich  is  thus  inscribed  on  a  tablet  at  top,  Such  was 
Jlonora  Sneyd,  I  bequeath  to  her  brother  Edward  Sneyd,  Esq.  if  he  sur- 
vives  me;  if  not,  I  bequeath  it  to  his  amiable  daughter.  Miss  Emma  Sneyd 
entreatnig  her  to  value  and  preserve  it  as  the  perfect  though  accidental 
resemblance  of  her  aunt,  and  my  ever  dear  friend,  when  she  was  surrounded 
hyallhernrgmghrles-heauiy  and  grace,  sensibility  and  goodness,  superiw 
intelhgence,  and  unswerving  truth.    To  my  before-mentioned  friendf  Mrs 
Maiy  Powys,  in  consideration  of  the  true  and  unextinguishable  love  which 
she  bore  to  the  original,  I  bequeath  the  miniature  picture  of  the  said  Hon- 
ora  Sneyd,  drawn  at  Buxton  in  the  year  1776,  by  her  gallant,  faithful  and 
unfortunate  lover.  Major  Andrd,  in  his  18th  year.    That  was  his  first  at- 
tempt to  delineate  the  human  face,  consequently  it  is  an  unfavorable  and 
most  imperfect  resemblance  of  a  most  distinguished  beauty." 


veniences 


of  the  sol- 
int,  in  this 
ve  decent 

;erupulous 
>  spoil  the 
those  of  a 
5nor.    "  I 
)te  Andre 
xcept  the 
th.     Pre. 
Ticonde- 
Lmericans 
lost  hare- 
however, 
m  travel- 
wth  regi- 
hen  sent, 
t;  where 
tribution, 
3.     This 
)ntest,  as 
resented 
the  pris- 

iving  from 
,  Such  was 
if  he  sur- 
na  Sneyd, 
accidental 
urrounded 
s,  supemr 
end,  Mrs. 
ave  which 
laid  Hon- 
itbful  and 
s  first  at- 
rable  and 


ANDRli'S  CAPTIVITY. 


85 


oners  of  war  should  be  made  to  work  "like  negro  slaves  to 
gain  their  daily  subsistence,  or  reduced  to  the  wretched  alter- 
native, to  perish  by  famine  or  take  up  arms  a-^ainst  their 
king  and  country."      Up  to  Montgomery's  arrival   at  the 
Sorel,  mdeed,  there  were  no  prisoners  of  war  to  speak  of 
subject  to  the  control  of  Congress  ?  and  no  systematic  prep- 
arations for  their  disposition  had  been  made.    It  was  now 
however,  ordered  that  the  officers  taken  at  St.  Johns  should 
contmue  their  course  to  Connecticut,  while  the  privates  should 
be  brought  to  Pennsylvania,  where  there  were  greater  con- 
veniences for  subsisting  so  many  men.     But  it  was  to  guard 
agamst  such  a  separation  that  the  officers   had   obtained 
Schuyler's  promise   that  they  should  not   be  parted   from 
their  soldiers.      On   the  one  hand,  it  was  important  that 
they  should  see  that  their  followers  were  not   abused;  on 
the  other,  that  attempts  to  seduce  them  into  the  American 
service  should  be  thwarted.    Accordingly,  when  the  instruc- 
tions of  Congress  reached  the  officer  who  was  leadin.^  the 
prisoners  to  Connecticut  by  way  of  the  Hudson  River,  he  could 
only  obey  them  so  far  as  to  bring  on  with  him  to  Pennsyl- 
vania all  of  the  7th  that  were  taken  at  St.  Johns,  officers  as 
well  as  privates.    As  he  came  down  the  Hudson,  however 
Andre  was  encountered  by  Knox, -_  afterwards  one  of  the 
Board  that  pronounced  on  his  fate,  and  now  on  his  road  to 
the  north  to  select  cannon  for  the  siege  of  Boston,  from  the 
spoils  on  Champlain.     Chance  compelled  the  two  youn-  men 
to  pass  the  night  in  the  same  cottage,  and  even  in  the°same 
bed.    There  were  many  points  of  resemblance  between  them. 
Their  ages  were  alike  ;  they  had  each  renounced  the  pursuits 
of  trade  for  the  profession  of  arms ;  each  had  made  a  study 
of  his  new  occupation ;  and  neither  was  devoid  of  literary 
tastes  and  habits.     Much  of  the  night  was   consumed   in 
pleasing  conversation  on  topics  that  were  rarely,  perhaps, 
broached  in  such  circumstances;    and  the  intelligence  and 
refinement  displayed  by  Andre  in  the  discussion  of  subjects 
that  were  equally  ii.      4ing  to  Knox,  left  an  impression 


1 
..  I,.. 


3<W< ' 


86 


pa 


IIFE  OF  MAJOR  AKDB^. 


on  tl.e  ramd  of  th«  kttcr  that  waa  never  oblilerated.    Tl„ 
rospcouvc  condition  of  the  bedfellow,  was  not  .nutually  com 
mun,ca.ed  t,  I  the  ensuing  corning  as  .hey  were  abo„M„ 
part;  and  when  Knox  a  few  yeara  later  was  called  on   ° 
jom  m  the  condemnation  to  death  of  the  companion  whose 
soc,e^  was  so  pleasant  to  him  on  this  occasion' he  l^^y 
of  their  .ntercoorse  gave  additional  bitterness  to  his  Dain-ul 
du  y.    Joshua  Smith  also  asserts  that  he  dined  at    hir.tae 
w.th  Andre,  at  the  house  of  Colonel  Hay  of  Havemmr 
though  the  feat«..es  of  .he  young  officer  wjre  faded  f"!,!' 
remembrance  when  he  was  «.lled  to  guide  him  f^m  our t: 

Congress  haying  ordered  that  its  prisoners  of  war  should 
be  kept  m  the  mterior  of  Pennsylvania,  Andre  and  his  tj,- 
pan,ons  were  now  carried  to  Lancaster.  The  officers  were 
paroled  to  keep  within  six  miles  of  their  apfK.i„te7,^sMenr 
to  approach  no  seaport,  and  u,  hold  no  c^rresponderce™ 
Amencan  affi.irs.  The  sale  of  bills  on  England  o,he™ie 
un  awful,  was  legalized  to  them  ,•  and  .he  men  we^  orfered 
.0  be  fed  as  the  continent  privates,  but  to  be  pai'and  chd 
by  the,r  own  government.    The  new  and  unsettled  state  „f 

r  ;f  to'XTs:  :zzi  r-  ^^f  - 

decided  to  separale  them  from  their  men  „  jT    • 
P^tested  against  this  '^e.s.roX^lZlTtl^Z 
gress  was  that,  while  the  officer  was  thus  parted  flhis^.' 
diers,  they  were  enlisted  by  the  Americans,  and  a "ain  t  la 
the  privates  at  Lancaster  had  received  neither  thefr  clothe 
nor  their  pay  and  llia.  ft  was  unjust  in  .he  ext  em    totu 
deprive  their  ie..de,.  of  the  means  of  satisfying  them      The 
local  Committee  of  Safety,  at  the  head  of  which  was  Ed™^ 
Shippen  (a  l„dy  of  whose  family  was  at  a  later  day  Ue 
fnend  of  Andre  and  the  wife  of  Arnold),  could  tmlfn.l 


order  among 
1776,  they  r 
paint  the  dis 
dren  are  in  j 
by  want  of  s 
ency  of  the 
what  assistar 
to  have  decli 
Congress  hai 
State  Coram 
as  would  no 
their  remova 
issued.  The 
compelled  to 
caster  Comn 
tavern-keepe 
lodged  the  of 
longer,  and  t 
therefore  be( 
fuel,  and  bre 
and  a  mess-d 
bills  thus  re 
6«.,  for  a  ch 
Despard  and 

There  is 
were  either  v 
reputation,  h 
New  York,  r 
the  captives 
was  chiefly  d 
made  defenc 
officer  stood 
clapped  into  : 
Montgomery 

*  After  allegii 
account  continu 


ted.     The 

'ally  com- 

about  to 

led  on  to 

ion  whose 

!  memory 

Js  painful 

this  time 

t'erstraw ; 

from  his 

our  h'nes 

ir  should 
his  com- 
ers Were 
ssidence, 
lence  on 
therwise 
ordered 
!ind  clad 
state  of 

They 
re  corn- 
receive 
roffered 
It  was 
in  vain 
o  Con- 
his  sol- 
in,  that 
clothes 
to  thus 

The 
idward 
ly  the 
lintaio 


TREATarENT  OF  PRISONERS. 


87 


order  among  the  men  but  by  a  military  guard.  In  January, 
1776,  they  represent  this  to  Congress.  They  also  strongly 
paint  the  distress  of  their  prisoners.  The  women  and  chil- 
dren are  in  a  state  of  starvation.  The  men  are  half  frozen 
by  want  of  sufficient  covering  «  against  the  rigor  and  inclem- 
ency of  the  season."  This  committee  seems  to  have  given 
what  assistance  it  could  to  the  captives,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
to  have  declined  separating  officers  and  men.  Accordingly, 
Congress  handed  over  the  disposition  of  the  business  to  the 
State  Committee,  with  instructions  to  imprison  such  officers 
as  would  not  f:\ve  a  parole ;  and  in  March,  1776,  orders  for 
their  removal  from  their  men  at  Lancaster  and  Reading  were 
issued.  Their  money  had  not  yet  arrived,  and  they  were 
compelled  to  leave  their  lodging-bills  unsettled.  The  Lan- 
caster Committee  reported  this  to  Congress,  saying  that  the 
tavern-keepers,  with  whom  the  continental  authorities  had 
lodged  the  officers,  had  finally  refused  to  accommodate  them 
longer,  and  that  some  of  the  inhabitants,  out  of  courtesy,  had 
therefore  been  induced  to  afford  them  rooms,  with  candle?, 
fuel,  and  breakfasts  ;  their  own  servants  were  in  attendance, 
and  a  mess-dinner  for  them  all  was  established.  Among  the 
bills  thus  rendered,  we  find  Michael  Bartgis's  claim  for  £7 
6«.,  for  a  chamber,  fire,  and  lights,  supplied  to  Lieutenants 
Despard  and  Andre  of  the  7  th. 

There  is  no  great  cause  to  suppose  that  these  prisoners 
were  either  well  treated  or  patient.  An  American  officer  of 
reputation,  himself  just  released  from  long  confinement  at 
New  York,  remarks  upon  the  ungenerous  slights  put  upon 
the  captives  at  Reading,  by  that  class  of  whigs  whose  valor 
was  chiefly  displayed  in  insulting  those  whom  better  men  had 
made  defenceless ;  and  if  their  aff'ronts  were  resented,  the 
officer  stood  a  good  chance  of  being  soundly  cudgelled,  and 
clapped  into  gaol.  More  than  one  who  had  surrendered  to 
Montgomery  attempted  to  abscond.* 

*  After  alleging  instances  of  our  ill-treatinent  of  prisoners,  an  English 
account  continues:  "  When  the  garrison  at  St.  Johns  capitulated,  because 


i   I 


i 


88 


IIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRt. 


fij    /'""■'• ''"'^'"''  °"^  "'"■  •™"'  P<=rf'»P'.  that  Ihe 
S1.0W  „g  ,hem  kmdnes..     I„  Andre's  case  .l,is  apprehensio^ 
cerlam  y  d,d  not  prevail.     Fro™  some  of  ll,e  peol  of  ITn 
casjer  ,,e  reeoived  kind  .voM,  and  kind  deedsfLre  a«o„; 
of  f„end,h,p  „ere  established  that  still  exist  n  the  meml 
o  the,,,  descendants     The  local  authorities  wee  less  pS 
».th  the  behav,or  of  the  26th  than  with  that  of  the  7lS    and 
there  could  have  been  no  one  in  either  regiment  bette  la^ 
fled  than  himself  to  win  the  favor  of  his  n°ew  nelhC  '  HM 

hneated.     In  h,m  we,e  most  judiciously  combined  the  love 
of  act,„„  and  the  love  of  pleasure:  the  movin.  powers  of 
e.-ery  sp,r.t  that  rises  from  the  common  level,  and  which 
when  p,,periy  jir^Ced  and  controlled,  a,e  wel    rclrented 
as   he  „  respectively  of  the  useful  and  the  agrabTe 

^ays  G.bbon,     would  seem  to  constitute  the  most  perfect  id4 
of  human  nature-     When  business  was  concerned,  A „dr^ 
was  zealous,  act,ve,  and  sagacious:  and  his  leisure  hoi 
»ereg.ve„  to  elegant  and  retining  relaxations.    ITaste  ?„^ 
pa.nt,ng,  poetry,  music,  and  dramatic  representaUons  com 
prebends  as  well  a  knowledge  of  the  outward  fn^lT'JZ 
as  of  the  thoughts  and  passions  that  stir  manS  •  LT 
rectness  of  eye,  ear,  and  hand ;  of  jud^m  „rftn „  '  A,"" 
vation ,  is  foste,^  and  strengthened  ly  the  ar^;;:!  'X 

they  had  no  provisions  and  no  nlarp  tn  mf.-.   *     xi 
afraid  of  them,  even  when  unarmed  fh«/f.      ?'  "''  ''^'^'  ""^'^  ««  ™»<=I» 
telling  them  he  wast  "hi  Ze;  afd  dt"'';7''^^^^^      ''''  "«-""' 
would  have  been  no  wonder  iHri.'  "°*^/f  «'''^^'*  ""  ^^'''"'  l»«now-    It 
scandalously  ill  retCfte™^^^  ^-^ed,  yet  so 

resolved  rather  to  run  the  hazarTofpe  shi^/^^^        "'  '5'  ?"""^  ''''^'^ 
to  escape  to  Canada  than  rontlnnl  *      ^  ^.       *''^  ^^^^Js  in  attempting 

have  so  addressed  600  men  whom  he  sent  off  ?,n  i  ,'  ^^^".^^«'-  "^ay 

they  were  ill-treated  afterwards  was  no  flulLf,'  ^k^"'"?  '^  ^^'  '^^'' 
hang  an  absconding  prisoner Tf  he  crid.n  t  "''  '^T^  ^'  P'"'^'»'««l  'o 
them  while  vet  fully  armed    th.  a  ^^  '"'"•    "^"^  ^^''  ««Pt"ring 

unarmed  men  ^  '  '^'  ^°»^"'=«"«  would  hardly  have  feared 


it  feeds. 

useful  to  il 

brush  and 

mere  amui 

the  people 

children  to 

scientific  r( 

ing,  and  I 

preserves  i 

singular  mc 

designs  stui 

certain  circ 

to  share  in 

who  were  d 

Mr.  Caleb 

His  son  ha( 

came  a  favc 

stantly  pres 

suffer  him  t 

urged  that 

not  do  so  wi 

that  he  had 

that  with  th 

home  would 

in  March,  ] 

the  former  s 

kept  up  betv 


Sir:--Y 
I  not  wish'd 
send  my  you 
find  a  Lodgir 
quiet  honest : 
boarded,  as  il 


andr£s  relations  with  the  AMFRICANS.        89 

it  feeds.     In  his  present  strait,  not  Goldsmith's  Hute  was  more 
useful  to  its  master  beside  "  the  murmuring  Loire  "  than  the 
brush  and  pencil  to  Andre's  familiar  hand.     Whether  as  a 
mere  amusement,  or  as  a  means  of  ingratiating  himself  with 
the  people  of  Lancaster,  he  set  about  teaching  some  of  their 
children  to  draw.     The  hUe  Dr.  Benjamin  Smith  Barton,  of 
scientific  reputation,  was  thus  initiated  into  the  art  of  sketch- 
ing, and  became  no  mean  draughtsman.     His  family  still 
preserves  specimens  of  Andre's  skill,  some  of  which  are  of 
singular  merit.     His  style  was  easy  and  free,  and  his  favorite 
designs  studies  of  the  human  figure,  or  from  the  antique.     In 
certain  circles  he  thus  became  a  welcome  guest,  and  was  wont 
to  share  in  their  parties  of  pleasure.     Among  the  inhabitants 
wlio  were  distinguished  by  their  courtesy  to  the  captives  was 
Mr.  Caleb  Cope,  a  Quaker  gentleman  of  loyal  proclivities. 
His  son  had  a  strong  natural  taste  for  painting,  and  soon  be- 
came a  favorite  pupil  of  Andre's:  so  much  so,  that  he  con- 
stantly pressed  the  father  to  place  the  lad  in  his  charge  and 
suffer  him  to  be  brought  up  to  that  art.     On  one  occasion  he 
urged  that  he  was  anxious  to  go  back  to  England,  but  could 
not  do  so  without  a  reasonable  excuse  for  quitting  the  army  • 
that  he  had  now  an  offer  to  purchase  his  commission ;  and 
that  with  this  boy  to  look  after,  a  fair  pretext  for  returning 
home  would  be  afforded.     But  the  father  was  inflexible,  and 
in  March,  1776,  the  master  and  pupil  were  separated,  and 
the  former  sent  to  Carlisle.     A  correspondence  was  however 
kept  up  between  Mr.  Cope  and  himself. 


ANDRE    TO    CALEB    COPE. 

Sir:  — You  wou'd  have  heard  from  me  ere  this  Time  had 
I  not  wish'd  to  be  able  to  give  you  some  encouragement  to 
send  ray  young  Friend  John  to  Carlisle.  My  desire  was  to 
find  a  Lodging  where  I  cou'd  have  him  with  me,  and  some 
quiet  honest  family  of  Friends  or  others  where  he  might  have 
boarded,  as  it  wou'd  not  have  been  so  proper  for  him  to  live 


-^i 


00 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDBlS. 


with  a  Mess  of  officers.    I  have  been  able  to  find  neither  and 
am  myself  still  in  a  Tavern.     The  people  here  are  no  more 
willmg  to  harbour  us,  than  those  of  Lancaster  were  at  our  first 
cominjr  there.     If,  however,  you  can  resolve  to  let  him  come 
here,  I  believe  Mr.  Despard  and  I  can  make  him  up  a  bed  in 
a  Lodging  we  have  in  view,  where  there  will  be  room  enough 
He  will  be  the  greatest  part  of  tlie  day  with  us,  employ'd  in 
the  few  things  I  am  able  to  instruct  him  in.     In  the  mean- 
while  I  may  get  better  acquainted  with  the  Town,  and  pro- 
vide  for  his  board.     With  regard  to  Expcnce  this  is  to  be 
attended  with  none  to  you.     A  little  assiduity  and  friendship 
IS  all  I  ask  in  my  young  friend  in  return  for  my  good  will  to 
be  of  service  to  him  in  a  way  of  improving  the  Talents  Nature 
hath  given  him.     I  shall  give  all  my  attention  to  his  morals 
and,  as  I  believe  him  well  dispos'd,  I  trust  he  will  acquire' 
no  bad  habits  here.     Mr.  Despard  joins  with  me  in  compli- 
ments  to  yourself,  Mrs.  Cope,  and  Family.     I  am,  Sir,  your 
most  humble  servant,  Jo„j,  Andhe. 

Carhsley  April  the  3d,  1776. 

Andr^  and  Despard  obtained  lodgings  with  a  Mrs.  Ramsey 
in  the  stone  house  that  now  stands  at  the  corner  of  Locust  Al ' 
ley  and  South  Hanover  Street,  in  Carlisle  ;  and  for  them  and 
eight  other  officers  a  mess  was  established.    Each  had  his 
servant  from  the  regiment,  dressed  in  the  hunting-shirts  and 
trousers  that  then  were  so  commonly  worn,  particularly  by 
our  troops.     The  ardent  whigs  of  the  place  feared  lest  their 
discourse  should  corrupt  the  weak-minded  within  their  allotted 
bounds  and  were  anxious  to  imprison  them,  but  could  find 
no  pretext.     At  last  Andre  and  his  comrade  were  detected 
m  conversation  with  two  tories.    The  latter  were  sent  to  -aol  • 
and  letters  in  the  French  language  being  found  on  theii^er' 
sons,  Andre  and  Despard  were  forbidden  for  the  future  to 
leave  the  town.     As  no  one  could  be  found  competent  to 
translate  the  letters,  their  contents  were  never  known.     The 
two  officers  had  provided  themselves  with  very  handsome 


fowling-f 

guns  the 

"  that  no 

exclamat 

occasion 

npprentic 

marched 

to  Carlisl 

loudly  till 

death.     *] 

on  this  1 

that  they 

the  5th  01 

Captain  ( 

through  < 

royal  offi 

wounded 

night,  th( 

massacre 

that  perp< 

same  regi 

tian  Indii 

Boys.     T 

before  sur 

needs  wer 

be  proteci 

to  imitate 

ing.    The 

*  This  wa 
in  Nicaragui 
very  few  Er 
ideas.  A  de) 
day.  "Thre^ 
"  have  arisen 
Captain  This 
they  died  th 
liad  warned 
bring  him  to 


HUMORED  ATTACK  ON  ANDR£. 


Ul 


either  and 
no  more 
t  our  first 
liim  come 
»  a  bed  in 
I  enough, 
ploy'd  in 
16  mean- 
and  pro- 
is  to  be 
liendship 
d  will  to 
s  Nature 
i  morah, 
I  acquire 
compli- 
Jir,  your 

»DRE. 


fowling-piccca  and  a  brace  of  beautiful  pointer  dogs.     The 
guns  they  forthwith  broke  to  pieces,  says  tradition,  atlirming 

"that  no rebel  should  ever  burn  powder  in  them," an 

exclamation  that  eavors  of  Despard's  style.*     On  another 
occasion  a  person  named  Thompson,  who  had  once  been  an 
apprentice  to  Mr.  Ramsey,  and  was  now  a  militia  captain, 
marched  his  company  from  the  northern  part  of  the  county 
to  Carlisle,  and  drawing  it  up  by  night  before  the  house,  sworo 
loudly  that  Andre  and  Despard  should  forthwith  be  put  to 
death.     The  entreaties  of  Mrs.  Ramsey  at  length  prevailed 
on  this  hero  to  depart,  shouting  to  her  lodgers  as  he  went 
that  they  were  to  thank  his  old  mistress  for  their  lives.     On 
llie  5th  of  August,  the  rumor  spread  through  Lancaster  that 
Captain  Clark's  company,  of  Cumberland  County,  on  its  way 
through  Carlisle  to  that  town,  had  wantonly  attacked  the 
royal  officers  there,  and,  firing  through  the  windows,  had 
wounded  Andre.     As  Clark's  arrival  was   looked  for  that 
night,  the  Lancaster  Committee  appear  to  have  feared  a 
massacre  would  ensue  of  the  privates  in  their  gaol,  similar  to 
that  perpetrated  in  the  same  place,  and  by  people  from  the 
same  region,  a  number  of  years  previously,  upon  the  Chris- 
tian Indians  who  had  fled  from  the  wrath  of  the  Paxton 
Boys.     They  ordered  the  gaol  to  be  well  supplied  with  water 
before  sunset,  and  provided  for  calling  out  the  local  militia,  if 
needs  were ;  and  the  prisoners  were  assured  that  they  should 
be  protected,  if  possible.     These,  however,  were  not  inclined 
to  imitate  their  predecessors  and  die  singing  hymns  and  pray- 
ing.   They  armed  themselves  with   stout  cord-sticks,  and 

*Thi8  was  an  Irish  officer,  who,  in  1781,  very  bravely  supported  Nelson 
in  Nicaragua,  and  was  executed  for  treason  in  1803.  He  was  one  of  the 
very  few  English  officers  that  brought  back  from  America  democratical 
ideas.  A  democratical  soldier  was  indeed  an  anomaly  in  the  service  of  that 
day.  "Three  distinguished  heroes  of  this  class,"  wrote  Scott  to  his  son, 
"have  arisen  in  my  time:  Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald,  Colonel  Despard,  and 
Captain  Thistle  wood;  and,  with  the  contempt  and  abhoreence  of  all  men, 
they  died  the  death  of  infamy  and  guilt."  Even  in  America,  Mr.  Cope 
had  warned  Despard  that  his  recklessness  and  disregard  would  certainly 
bring  him  to  some  bad  end. 


.■S.'' 


92 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


reso  vcd  to  d.e  hurd.     On  Clark',  approach,  th«  alarm  van- 
ished :  ho  denied  the  story  altogether,  and  put  its  p.x)paKator 
m  the  guard-house.     The  man  then  had  only  to  say  that,  at 
t.arli8le,  he  had  seen  two  persons  firing  their  pieces  down  the 
street,  and  that  he  had  heard,  from  the  house  where  the 
officers   servants  dwelt,  that  Andr,5  was  wounded.     There 
was  probably  no  truth  in  this  last  assertion;  but  there  was 
much  ill-will  against  the  officers  from  the  following  cause  •- 
i^arly  m  177G,  Foster,  with  some  English  and  a  number  of 
savages,  had  encountered  a  body  of  Americans  at  the  Cer^ar. 
on  Lake  Champlain,  who  surrendered  to  the  number  of  .Wo' 
l^oster  alleged  that  his  Indians,  infuriated  at  the  I033  of  their 
sachem,  were  for  murdering  the  prisoners,  and  v  ,,.  only 
content  to  spare  them  on  condition  of  marking  each  man's 
ear  with  a  knife,  and  threatening  to  slay  outright  all  who 
should  ever  return  with  this  distinction.     He  then  paroled 
tr.era,  to  go  home  and  be  exchanged  for  a  like  number  of  the 
i^nghsh  taken  at  St.  Johns.     The  American  government 
would  not  fulfil  this  convention ;  and  the  clipped  men,  arrt 
mg  at  their  own  abode,  were  often  full  of  hatred  to  those  for 
whom  they  Were  to  have  been  exchanged.     This  event  occa- 
SK)ned   great  embarrassments  in  effecting  exchanges  durin.. 
the  war;  for  the  enemy  always  insisted  on  the  men  of  the 
Cedars  bemg  accounted  for.     But  while  some  of  the  offi- 
cers surrendered  their  paroles  and  were  sent  to  prison  - 
a  dreadful  place,  that  will  be  prejudicial  to  their  heaUh  " 
says  the  whig  committee,  -  and  others,  disregarding  it,  fled 
through  the  wilderness  to  their  friends,  Andre  is  described 
as  qmetly  confining  himself  to  his  chamber  and  passinc.  his 
days  m  reading,  with  his  feet  resting  on  the  wainscot  of  the 
window  and  h.s  dogs  lying  by  hi.  .;,;...     'I'his  was  ^he  wisest 
course ;  for  jiny  infringement  of  tbo  urH  latter  of  their  na- 
role  was  now  visited  on  the  officers  with  imprisonment ;  and 
new  resfnetions  were  imposed.     They  were  sent  to  gaol  if 
hey  went  out  except  in  uniform ;  they  were  not  permitted 
to  leave  their  chambers  after  nightfall ;  some  were  deprived 


HIS   LETTERS   TO  MR,  COPE. 


98 


as  tUvy  complniiied  to  congress,  of  their  servantM ;  others 
Hubjected  to  threats  and  insults.  These  matters  are  set  down 
in  the  records  of  the  times.  Disagreeable  as  they  are  to  re- 
peat, there  can  be  no  reason  for  their  omission  here,  save 
one :  if  there  were  any  cause  to  question  their  truth,  they 
would  gladly  bo  stricken  out. 

—  Pudet  hflBc  opprobria  nobis 
Kt  dici  potuisse,  et  non  potuisse  reftlli. 


ANDRK   TO    CALEB    COPE. 

Dear  Sir  :  ~  I  am  much  oWig'd  to  you  for  your  kind  Let- 
ter and  to  your  son  for  his  drawings.    He  is  greatly  improv'd 
since  I  left  Lancaster,  and  I  do  not  doubt  but  if  he  continues 
his  application  he  will  make  a  very  great  progress.    I  cannot 
regret  that  you  did  not  send  your  son  hither:  We  have  been 
submitted  to  alarms  and  jealousys  which  wou'd  have  render'd 
his  stay  here  very  disagreeable  to  him  and  I  wou'd  not  wil- 
lingly see  any  person  suffer  on  our  account;  with  regard  to 
your  apprehensions  in  consequence  of  the  escape  of  the  Leb- 
anon gentlemen,  they  were  groundless,  as  we  have  been  on 
parole  ever  since  our  arrival  at  this  place  which  I  can  assure 
you  they  were  not.     I  shou'd  more  than  once  have  written 
to  you  had  opportunitys  presented  themselves,  but  the  post 
and  we  seem  to  have  fallen  out,  for  we  can  never  by  that 
channel  either  receive  or  forward  a  line  on  the  most  indiffer- 
ent subjects.     Mr.  Despard  is  very  well  and  desires  to  be 
remembered  to  yourself  and  family.     I  beg  you  wou'd  give 
my  most  friendly  compliments  to  your  Family  and  particu- 
larly to  your  son  my  disciple,  to  whom  I  hope  the  future  pos- 
ture of  affairs  will  give  me  an  opportunity  of  pointing  out 
the  way  to  proficiency  in  his  favourite  study,  which  may  tend 
so  much  to  his  pleasure  and  advantage.     Let  him  go  on 
copying  whatever  good  models  he  can  meet  with  and  never 
suffer  himself  to  neglect  the  proportion  and  never  to  think  of 
finishing  his  work,  or  imitating  the  fine  flowing  lines  of  his 


94 


LIFE  OF  MAJOIl  ANDR£. 


copy,  UU  every  limb,  feature,  house,  tree,  or  whatever  he  is 
drawing,  ,s  m  its  proper  place.     With  a  little  practise,  this 
will  be  so  natural  to  him,  that  his  Eye  will  at  first  si^h 
guide  his  pencil  in  every  part  of  the  work.     I  wish  I  m^av 
soon  see  you  in  our  way  to  join  our  own  friends  with  which 

Dear  Sirf  &cf  '  '''  "'^  ^'  "'  ^"""^'^  ''"""'^-     ^  ^'^^ 

Carlisle  the  3rd  Septr.  1776. 


THE    SAME    TO    THE    SAME. 

Your  Letter  by  Mr.  Barrington  is  just  come  to  hand.  I 
am  sorry  you  shou'd  imagine  my  bein,.  absent  from  Lancas- 
ter,  or  our  troubles  could  make  me  forget  my  friends  Of 
the  several  Letters  you  mention  having  writfen  to  t  on^y 
one  of  late  has  reach'd  Carlisle,  viz.  that  by  Mr.  Slough.  To 
one  I  received  from  you  a  week  or  two  after  leaving  Lancas- 
ter I  return'd  an  Answer.  I  own  the  difficulties  of°our  Co^ 
respondence  has  disgusted  me  from  attempting  to  ;vrite     I 

ee~;s.ir"'  "'"^' ''  ^^"'*  ^^°'  ^""'^^  ^"^  - -■ 

I  hope  your  son's  indisposition  will  be  of  no  consequeifce.* 


Joiin. 


*1' 


THE   SAME   TO   THE    SAME. 

Beau  Sir  :  _i  have  just  time  to  acquaint  you  that  I  re- 
CC.V  d  your  Letter  by  Mrs.  Calender  with  ray  youn<.  Friend- 
|Jraw.„gs,  whiol.  persuade  me  he  i.  much  JpL'drand  tt 

ing  the  features  m  faces,  and  in  copying  hands  exactly.     He 
should  now  and  then  copy  things  from  the  life  and  the^  com 
pa.^  the  proportions  with  what  prints  he  may  have,  or  wl" . 
rules  he  may  have  remember-d.    With  respect  to  hi!  shaZg 

sen.  o„  p.„,„  f„„  ,,„„„„„  |,„,  ,„  SI  *taa  c  "n"r'°"  "'°°"'  "' 


HIS  LETTERS  TO  MR.  COPE. 


93. 


with  Indian  Ink,  the  anatomical  figure  is  tolerably  well  done, 
but  he  wou'd  find  his  work  smoother  and  softer,  were  he  to' 
lay  the  shades  on  more  gradually,  not  blackening  the  darkest 
at  once,  but  by  washing  them  over  repeatedly,  and  never  un- 
til  the  paper  is  quite  dry.     The  figure  is  very  well  drawn. 

Captn.  Campbell  who  is  the  bearer  of  this  letter  will  prob- 
ably when  at  Lancaster  be  able  to  judge  what  likelyhood 
there  is  of  an  Exchange  of  Prisoners  which  we  are  told  is 
to  take  place  immediately.  If  this  shou'd  be  without  founda- 
tion, I  shou'd  be  very  glad  to  sec  your  son  here.  Of  this  you 
may  speak  with  Captn.  Campbell,  and  if  you  shou'd  deter- 
mine upon  it,  let  me  know  it  a  few  days  before  hand  when  I 
shall  take  care  to  settle  matters  for  his  reception.     I  am,  &c. 

Carlisle  the  llth  Oct.  1776. 

My  best  compliments  to  your  ftiraily  and  particularly  to 
John.    Mr.  Despard  begs  to  be  remember'd  to  you. 

THE    SAME   TO    THE    SAME. 

Dear  Sir:  — I  cannot  miss  the  opportunity  I  have  of 
writing  to  you  by  Mr.  Slough  to  take  leave  of  yourself  and 
Family  and  transmit  to  you  my  sincere  wishes  for  your  wel- 
fare.    We  are  on  our  road  (as  we  believe,  to  be  exchang'd) 
and  however  happy  this  prospect  may  make  me.  It  doth°not 
render  me  less  warm  in  the  fate  of  those  persons  in  this 
Country  for  whom  I  had  conceiv'd  a  regard.     I  trust  on 
your  side  you  will  do  me  the  Justice  to  remember  me  with 
some  good  will,  and  that  you  will  be  persuaded  I  shall  be 
happy  if  an  Occasion  shall  offer  of  my  giving  your  son  some 
further  hints  in  the  Art  for  which  he  has  so  happy  a  turn. 
Desire  him  if  you  please  to  commit  my  name  and  my  friend- 
ship to  his  Memory,  and  assure  him,  from  me,  that  if  he  only 
brings  diligence  to  her  assistance.  Nature  has  open'd  him  a 
path  to  fortune  and  reputation,  and  that  he  may  hope  in  a 
few  years  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  labour.    Perhaps  the  face 
of  affairs  may  so  far  change  that  he  may  once  more  be  within 


96 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


my  reach,  when  it  will  be  a  very  great  pleasure  to  me  to  give 
him  what  assistance  I  can.  My  best  compliments  as  well  as 
Mr.  Despard's  to  Mrs.  Cope  and  the  rest  of  your  family  I 
am  truly,  &c.  ^  j-    x 

Heading  the  2nd  Deer.  1776.* 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year  most  of  the  prisoners  made 
byeuher  s,de  m  Canada  were  exchanged,  and  Andr^  thus 
obtamed  hjs  freedom  by  their  means,  through  whom  he  had 
lost  It.     The  skeleton  of  the  7th  wa.  transferred  from  that 
province  to  New  York;  recruits  and  new  clothing  were  sent 
out  from  England ;  and  in  the  end  of  December  the  regi- 
ment, mc  udmg  the  men  lately  discharged  from  Pennsylv!-!- 
n.a,  marched  mto  town  with  tolerably  full  ranks.     Andr^  did 
not,  however,  long  remain  in  it :  on  the  18th  January,  1777 
he  received  a  captaincy  in  the  26th,  which  had  been  so  an<..' 
mented  that  each  company  consisted  of  64  men,  exclusive  of 
commissioned  officers. 

Sir  William  Howe,  who  now  commanded  in  chief,  had  ap- 
peared  on  Long  Island  (where,  indeed,  it  was  supposed  Am- 
herst  had  advised  his  wintering  in  1775-6,  and  fhence  ctm 
mandmg  the  neighboring  colonies)  in  the  preceding  summ"" 
and  had  given  Washington's  army  a  severe  defeltf    The 
ski  1  with  which  our  general  availed  himself  of  his  adversa- 
ry s  carelessness,  however,  wrested  the  fruits  of  victory  from 
the  English  ;  and  9000  men  were  safely  borne  away,  whos" 
retreat  might  have  been  prevented  by  the  least  exe^ise  of 
*  These  letters  were  communicated  to  me  by  Caleb  Cone  Fsn    of  Phil. 

cme  to  Mr  c„r  °  V"T^  "™»P?"''™'=  ^M  "-'  «a,e  here;  le.te,, 
.•n-7^'X">  ;.T  74.'''^^ ""  ""'^-^  "'^'^  ^^«  "^™-*  precipitation."  -  Lush. 


amraunii 


regi- 


VICTORIES  OF  TRENTON  AND  PRINCETON.  97 

forethought.     New  York  was  occupied ;   Fort  Washin..ton 
taken  with  its  2000  Americans ;  and  Washington  compelled 
to  retreat  through  Jersey  into  Pennsylvania,  with  Cornwallis 
thundering  at  his  heels  and  pressing  the  pursuit  with  hot 
urgency     Had  Howe  (as  he  might  easily  have  done)  passed 
a  force  from  Staten  Island  to  Brunswick,  where  much  of  our 
ammunition,  light  artillery,  &c.,  had  been  sent  on  in  advance 
it  could  have  destroyed  them  all,  and  in  every  human  proba- 
bility have  intercepted  the  letreat  and  crushed  our  army  be- 
tween Itself  and  Cornwallis.     This  was  the  opinion,  not  onlv 
among  our  men,  but  in  the  royal  lines;  and  Clinton  had  vain- 
ly urged  that  the  Rhode  Island  expedition  should  have  been 
"landed  at  Amboy,  to  have  cooperated  with  Lord  Cornwallis 
or  embarked  on  board  Lord  Howe's  fleet,  landed  in  Dela' 
ware,  and  taken  possession  of  Philadelphia."  * 

Our  affairs  now  began  to  look  very  desperate.     We  had 
been  driven  out  of  Canada.    Washington,  though  invested  by 
Congress  with  a  dictatorship,  saw  his  forces  fluctuating  be- 
tween 2000  to  3000  men,  disorganized,  and  one  mi<.ht  have 
feared,  almost  ripe  for  dissolution.     Numbers  in  the  seat  of 
war  were  daily  resuming  fealty  to  the  crown,  and  the  con- 
tagion spread  even  into  the  higher  ranks  of  the  army.f    Con- 
gress had  adjourned  to  Baltimore.     The  paper-money  had 
depreciated.     Lee,  on  whom   many  relied  as  on  a  second 
Charles  of  Sweden,  was  led   away  captive  by  Harcourt's 
dragoons  while  yet  the  pen  was  wet  which  had  testified  to 
Gates  his  contempt  for  his  chieftain :  —  «  entre  nous,  a  cer- 
tain great  man  is  most  damnably  deficient."     At  this  crisis, 
his  strength   swollen  by  militia  to  5000  men,  Washington 
aimed  a  deadly  blow  at  the  chain  of  posts  unwisely  estob- 
hshed  and  carelessly  maintained  across  Jersey.     Rahl  was 
cut  to  pieces ;  Cornwallis  out-generalled  ;  and  the  victories 
of  Trenton  and  Princeton,  which  in  a  European  campai-n 
might  scarce  figure  as  more  than  brilliant  affliirs,  were  as  the 

*  Paine's  American  Crisis,  No.  I.  -  Sir  H.  Clinton's  MS. 
t  Warren ;  i.  353. 


i.%.  '!■ 


98 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


Howe  might  vainly  console  himself  with  the  reflection  that 
the  neglect  oHus  subordinates  had  invited  surprise,  and  th! 
an  exasperated  population  withheld  intelligence  fi'om  thei 
Hessmn  plunderers.    These  contingencies  he  should  have  p«>- 
vided  agamst     The  fault  was  his  own,  and  it  was  Washing- 
ton  s  care  to  gloriously  profit  by  it.*  ^ 

«en?r/f  ^^"'^  *'  ^""^  ^"'^'  ^"^^^  ^''^  P^^P^^^'J  «nd  pre- 
rented  to  Howe  a  memoir  upon  the  existing  war.     In  it  ho 

doubtless  set  forth  the  conclusions  taught  him  by  a  year's  active 
ervace  m  Canada,  with  the  astute  and  energetic  Carleton  by 
h.s  temporary  intercourse  as  a  prisoner  with  the  gene  ous 
Schuyler  and  Montgomery,  and  their  followers  in  the  north 
by  his  long  confinement  among  the  rural  population  of  Penn- 
sylvania; and  by  the  impressions  he  had  received,  and  the 
compansons  he  was  able  to  make  of  the  relative  positions  of 
affairs  m  1774,  when  Congress  first  met,  and  in  1777,  when 

*"  There  were  who  thought  (and  who  were  not  silenti  that  a  .1..- 
across  Jersey  n.ight  be  dangerous.    General  Howe  wrote  to  General  G^ 
ton  thus,  a  few  days  before  the  misfortune  —'I  havA  h..^   ^e"frai  ^hn- 
.0  run  a  chaia  .cr»,  jr.^,,  „,e  U.C^l'mL'TZ  t  r„Zf  ""''" 
Gencr.  Grant  [wa.]  principally  („  blame ;  he  should  ha"  vlted  M,  •„,;; 

clou, and  „ffl„erilk„„„,,„e„.s of  J,a  S?  *:,;,;  -^^^^^^^^ 

and  1,92,  prove,  what  he  himself  thinta  of  hi.  conduct  In  imT'Zl, 

Hesa,an  Corporal  would  have  been  so  imposed  uln^      4iTl  T 
Washington  did  not  march  to  Brunswick  ^^^':  '  f/'""'^" 

from  plundering,  we  had  no  business Ttak;  up  winte  "^ter L  a  di " 
tnct  we  wished  to  preser\'e  loval     Th«  tt.c  •  ^^'"r^'l"*"'''^^  ^"  *  <l's- 

•  very  curious  pvoof.-- Clint  Js  MSS.  "'"'''  P"''^"'' 


vit 


Indepen- 

sction  that 
N  and  that 
rom  their 
have  pix)- 
Wasliing- 

I  and  pre- 
In  it  ho 
ir's  active 
leton;  by 
generous 
le  north ; 
of  Penn- 
<  and  the 
sitions  of 
77,  wlien 

»t  a  chain 
neral  CJin- 
ailed  upon 
er.'  .... 
1  his  posts, 
r  it  would 
srsey;  but 
veryjudi- 
»o,  in  1791 
He  had 
ipassable; 

Lordship 
I  thinking 
''  his  fires, 
chWash- 
n  sure  no 
a  wonder 
Id  refrain 
in  a  dis- 
;.  Truth 
tter,  that 

produce 


HIS  PKOMOTION.  —  SIR  CHARLES  GREY.  99 

he  rejoined  the  army.  Since  he  came  to  America  he  had 
kept  up  a  journal  in  which  both  pen  and  pencil  were  tasked 
to  rea)rd  has  adventures  and  wanderings  among  Americans, 
Canadians  and  savages.  Everything  of  interest  that  he 
saw -bird,  beast,  or  flower -was  preserved  by  his  brush 
m  Its  native  hue,  and  the  volume  exhibited  not  only  views 
and  plans  of  the  regions  he  had  traversed,  but  of  the  man- 
ners  and  apparel  of  their  inhabitants.  Even  through  captiv- 
ity, he  had  saved  this  precious  memorial  from  the  hands  of 
his  captors;  and  it  may  well  be  believed  to  have  been  of  ma- 

« '' wT'''  '"^  ^'™  "'^-    ^'''  "^^'"^•^  ''^'  ^vell  received ;  - 
Sir  William  was  delighted  with  its  ability  and  intelligence. 
He  at  once  took  the  writer  into  favor;  and  it  was  perhaps  in 
consequence  that,  on  the  18th  of  January,  1777,  he  got  his 
company  m  the  26th.      But  a  staff  appointment  was  his 
legitimate  sphere,  and  there  was  for   the   time  none  such 
vacant.     He  therefore  remained  on  line  duty.     His  re-iment 
was  fortunately  not  one  of  those  that  Tryon  led  in  April 
1777  toDanbury;  otherwise  he  might  have  met  Benedict 
Arnold  face  to  face,  and  shared  in  the  questionable  glories  of 
what  Clinton  honestly  confesses  to  have  been  "  a  second  Lex- 
mgton."*     In  the  beginning  of  the  summer  he  was  named 
aide-de-camp  to  Major-General  Grey. 

Charles  Grey  was  the  fourth  son  of  Sir  Henry  Grey  of 
Howick,to  whom  he  eventually  succeeded  -  his  next  brother 
being  killed  in  a  duel  by  Lord  Pomfret.  He  came  of  a 
knightly  Northumbrian  family,  and  of  an  ancient  line.  "  The 
Hows  of  Grai,"  says  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  "is  well  known  infe- 
rior to  no  Hows  in  England,  in  greater  Continuance  of  Hon- 
our, and  for  number  of  great  Howses  sprung  fj-om  it  to  be 
matched  by  none,  but  by  the  noble  Hows  of  Nevel."  At  nine- 
teen he  was  aide  to  Prince  Ferdinand,  and  wounded  at  Min- 
den.  At  the  peace  of  1763,  when  he  retired  on  half-pay, 
he  was  colonel  and  aide  to  the  king.  I„  our  war,  he  had 
the  local  rank  of  Major-General,  and  was  distinguished  for 

*  Clinton  MS. 


100 


LIFE  OF  »IAJOR  ANDR£. 


his  dashing  enterprise ;  and  afterwards  served  with  such  credit 
in  other  quarters,  that  he  was,  in  1801,  raised  to  the  peera-e 
as  Baron  Grey  de  Howick,  and  subsequently  advanced  to°a 
viscountcy.     So  great  was  the  opinion  of  his  merit  that,  when 
the  mutiny  of  the  Nore  threw  all  England  into  fear  and  con- 
fusion,  his  political  opponent,  Sheridan,  advised  Dundas  "to 
cut  the  buoys  on  the  river,  send  Sir  Charles  Grey  down 
to  the  coast,  and  set  a  price  on  Parker's  head."     By  theso 
means  only,  he  said,  could  the  country  be  saved ;  and  he 
threatened  to  impeach  ministers  that  very  night,  if  they  were 
not  resorted  to.     Grey  brought  home  with  him  a  high  esti- 
mate  of  Washington,  though  he  thought  him  constitutionally 
nervous.*  "^ 

Personal  friendship  had  now  led  Sir  Charles  to  Howe's 
camp.  The  other  generals  were  all  provided  with  aides.  He 
brought  none  with  him  when  he  arrived  at  New  York  on  the 
3d  of  June,  and  willingly  listened  to  his  general's  recom- 
mendation  of  "  a  young  man  of  great  abilities,  whom  for 
some  time  he  had  wished  to  provide  for."  Andre  was  ap- 
pointed  his  aide-de-camp,  and  thenceforth  could  have  been 
but  little  with  his  regiment,  though  his  rank  in  it  was  still 
retained.     He  doubtless  accompanied  Grey  in  the  movement 

*  General  Grey  was  father  of  the  celebrated  Reform  Peer,  whose  name 
wa  once  ,n  every  mouth,  and  whom  Cobbett  so  injured  by  the  pubHca  ion 

a  d  hfr  o  f  1  "  ''"' '?  '^'  ™*^  "^  ^1^0,000  per  ann^m.  It  was  also 
aid  that  so  far  from  imitating  "the  fair  platonist,"  Lady  Jane  his  wav  of 
.fe  might  have  been  classed  by  her  tutor,  old  Roger  icham,  witlTh^ 
dote  of  rTr^  "'f  {  ''  *''  '^^^  '^^""Sht  home  Im  Venice. '  An  ale^ 
tar  J^romoZ'''  "'l''  *'"'  ''  '^'"'^  "«^  '^'^  «">«"g  the  tories  in  the 
^Y^u  w  1  fi'r  ^T^^'r^''^  ^''^'''^''  ^^««  '^^'  ^««tructed  by  hi  „ 

g.ve  h,m  these  a„,we«.    You  will  u,e„  be  ex.„,i„ei  by  tlfe  Queen     She 


HOWE'S  SALLY  INTO  NEW  JERSEY 


101 


of  force  that  Howe  made  into  Jersey  on  the  14th  of  June, 
but  the  column  to  which  he  was  attached  did  not  come  into 
action.     This  was  at  a  juncture  when  our  army,  inferior  in 
strength,  had  nothing  to  hope  from  being  forced  into  a  gen- 
eral engagement;  which,  for  that  very  reason,  was  desired 
by  the  enemy.    We  were  encamped  in  a  very  defensible,  but 
by  no  means  impregnable  ground.*    It  was  the  British  policy 
to  seduce  us  from  these  lines ;  and  by  a  simulated  retreat, 
they  partially  succeeded.    «  This  feint  of  Sir  William  Howe," 
confesses  Clinton,  "was  well  imagined  and  well  executed, 
but  Washington  began  to  grow  wary."     The  Americans  fell 
back  with  slight  damage  to  their  posts  in  the  hills,  securing 
the  passes  which  Cornwallis  had  sought  to  occupy ;  and  there 
was  nothing  left  for  the  foe  but  to  return  to  the  place  whence 
he  came,  to  boldly  essay  the  hostile  camp,  or  to  leave  our 
people  in  their  security,  and,  by  intercepting  their  supplies, 
or  even  crossing  the  Delaware,  finally  force  Washington  to 
march  out.     This  last  seemed  to  many  of  the  English  the 
roost  feasible  manoeuvre.    "I  had  planned  this  very  move 
in  1779,"  wrote  Clinton,  some  years  later,  « under  promise 
of  early  reinforcements,  and  had  taken  every  previous  step 
to  it ;  but  reinforcements  not  arriving  till  September,  I  was 
obliged  to  relinquish  it."  f     On  this  occasion,  however,  Howe 
thought  it  wisest  to  go  quietly  back  towards  New  Yhk  ; 
whence  he  soon  sailed  with  the  bulk  of  the  troops.     Clin- 
ton was  left  to  hold  the  city  with  what  remained ;  "  making 
in  all  7000 ;  great  proportion  of  which  were  raw  provin- 
cials." X 

From  Sir  Henry's  own  manuscript  notes,  it  may  be  as  well 
to  insert  here  some  further  narrative  of  the  doings  of  the 
royal  arms  on  the  Hudson.  It  will  be  recollected  that,  while 
he  was  «  forbid  to  do  anything  offensive  that  could  endanger 

*  "In  this  position  Washington  had  the  Eariton  in  front  so  as  [to  be] 
strongly  posted,  but  not  entirely  secure:  for  his  communication  might  have 
drawn  him  from  it."  —  ainton  MS. 

t  CUnton  MS.  j  Il^ij 


*  ^ 


102 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


New  York,"  it  wns  impossible  for  Clinton  to  remain  indifTei*. 
ent  to  the  fate  of  Burgoyne.     In  his  own  words  :  — 

"  When  Sir  H.  Clinton  had  received  a  reinforcement  of 
1700  recruits  from  Europe,  and  had  determined  on  a  move 
up  the  Hudson,  he  wrote  to  Sir  W.  Howe  his  intention  and 
his  motives  for  doing  it ;  though  he  considered  an  attempt  on 
the  forts  as  rather  desperate,  he  thought  the  times  required 
such  exertions.     He  feared  he  should  not  succeed,  but  flat, 
tered  himself  he  had  nothing  to  apprehend  but  failure  with- 
out any  fatal  consequences  to  New  York.     Sir  W.  Howe  in 
answer  told  him  that  if  his  object  was  not  of  the  greatest 
consequence,  and  almost  certain  of  success,  and  in  a  short 
time,  he  was  ordered  to  return,  and  send  to  Sir  W.  Howe 
the  troops  he  had  moved  with,  as  Washington  reinforced  by 
Putnam  had  been  enabled  to  attack  him  on  the  9th,  and  that 
if  he  was  not  joined  by  the  troops  I  had  moved  with,  or  till 
he  was,  he  could  not  open  the  Delaware.    I  mention  this  fact 
and  Su-  W.  Howe's  reasons  for  withdrawing  the  force  I  had 
moved  with :   had  I  received  this  letter  of  Sir  W.  Howe's 
before  I  had  moved,  it  must  have  stopt  me;  but  receivin<r 
It  afterwards,  by  a  miracle  succeeded  in  takin^  the  forts     I 
should  have  felt  myself  satisfied  in  proceeding  had  I  any 
hopes  of  success.     I  had  dispatched  G.  Vaughan  with  1700 
men  to  feel  for  Burgoyne ;  cooperate  with  him ;  nay,  join 
him  if  necessary.     Vaughan  had  advanced  near  100  miles 
and  had  40  more  to  go  to  Albany,  and  60  more  to  join  Bur- 
goyne.   He  wrote  me  word  the  19th  he  could  hear  mthm<r 
certain  of  Burgoyne,  but  had  apprehensions.    Alas !  Bur- 
goyne had  surrendered  the  17th.      Had  I  moved   G  days 
sooner  I  should  have  found  McDougal  there,  and  consc- 
quently  must  have  failed;  besides  I  could  not  risk  a  move 
of  that  sort  unless  Burgoyne  had  expressed  a  wish  that  I 
should;  and  I  did  not  receive  his  answer  accepting  my  offer 
till  the  29th.     Had  I  made  the  attempt  on  the  east*  side,  and 
even  beaten  Putnam,  I  had  still  the  Hudson  to  pass,  and  I 
had  no  boats,  nor  no  vessel  to  protect  my  landing:   thus, 


OPERATIONS  ON  THE  HUDSOxN.  103 

therefore,  I  must  have  failed.  Ila.l  I  delayed  my  attack 
after  I  had  passed  the  Thunderberg  6  hours,  Putnam  would 
have  passed  that  river  and  gained  the  forts,  for  thou-h  Sir 
James  Wallace  prevented  his  doing  it  from  Peekskiln,  he 
might  have  done  so  by  a  detour,  and  I  must  have  been  foiled. 
I  triod  the  Impossible :  a  tolerable  good  arrangement,  good 
luck,  and  great  exertion  of  Officers  and  Men  succeeded. 
Jrom  the  information  I  received  just  as  I  was  landing  at 
Howes  pomt, and  which  I  dare  not  communicate  to  anybody, 
I  had  httle  hopes  of  doing  more  than  covering  Burrroyne's 
retreat  to  Ticonderoga,  which  I  had  no  doubt  of  his  attempt- 
mg  the  12th;  for  as  to  his  supposing  I  could  take  the  forts 
and  penetrate  to  Albany,  and  keep  up  the  communication 
afterwards,  he  could  not  expect  it."* 

This  interesting  statement  refers  to  Clinton's  movement 
ngamst    the  American   works   at   Verplanck's   and    Stony 
Points  — one  of  the  most  creditable  performances  of  the 
war.     These  works  commanded  the  navigation  of  the  Hud- 
son and  impeded  the  transmission  of  aid  to  Bur^oyne.   «  Lord 
Rawdon,  then  aide-de-camp  to  Sir  H.  Clinton,''had  been  sent 
to  reconnoitre  Verplanck's  Point ;  but  he  could  not  get  near 
enough  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  a  landin''."t     De- 
spite this,  the  English  set  forth  by  water  with  3000  men,  and 
easily  made  good  fjieir  landing  at  Verplanck's,  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  river.     Alarmed  lest  their  plan  should  be  to  push 
on  directly  to  Burgoyne,  Putnam  hurried  to  secure  the  passes 
above,  while  Clinton  adroitly  circumvented  him  by  throwin*. 
2100  of  his  little  army  to  the  western  bank,  and  hastening 
to  attack  our  forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton.     A  dan-erous 
and  difficult  mountain  — the  Donderberg  —  had  to  be  sur- 
mounted ere  his  troops  could  come  to  the  assault;  and,  des- 
titute of  artillery,  there  was  nothing  left  for  them  but  to 
storm.    It  was  late  in  the  day  when  they  drew  near,  «  by  a 
detour  of  seven  miles,  having  also  a  long  defile  to  pass  under 
a  steep  cliff,  at  the  end  of  which  was  Fort  Montgomery,  con- 
*  Clinton  MS.  ^  j_^.^^ 


104 


LIFE  OK  M,UOU  ANllKt 


«i.sling  of  eiglit  rodoubU  joined  by  m  inlrencl.nient"  Thai 
post  wn,  infcriop  in  sirongtl,  ,o  Fort  Clinton,  from  wl.icl,  i, 
w.»  .e,«rated  by  «  p„s«.bio  strcnn, ,  and  botl.  were  assailed 

n, 'r  .  '^r  "'""'"«•  """"  ""'  ''""'  'I'"'"  «"•'»  been 
atl«ok«l  at  ll,c  sanio  .nslant,  neilhcr  would  Iwvo  boen  carried 

wubout  g^t  lo<- observe.  Sir  Henry,  hI.o  himself  direeW 
the  more  dangerous  onset  against  Fort  Clinton.    "  This  attack 
was  delayed  till  that  of  the  left  ,vas  judged  to  have  berme 
-cnona  and  till  it  was  dark,  that  the  troops  might  beTs 
opposed  .n  moving  up  to  it."     The  enterprise  was°sueeessf^ 
rhe  forts  were  earned  with  a  rush,  and  an  immense  quan- 
|ly  of  mditary  stores  were  capture,!  or  destroyed.     Never- 
Iheless  there  was  a  prodigious  risk  in  the  whole  affair;  and 
<  .0  Lnghsh  leader  candidly  owns  how  much  his  safetC  was 
due  .0  the  enterprise  of  «  Sir  James  Wallaee,  who,  by^ston 
"ng  the  rebel  boats  in  Peekskiln,  prevented  Putnam  frem 
passing  to  the  forts."* 

But  however   detrimental   these  successes   were   to   our 
cause,  they  were  more  than  atoned  for  by  the  fall  of  Bur 
goyne.     That  Clinton's  object  was  the  relief  of  that  genera; 
i3_ pretty  certain;  and  to  that  extent  his  expedition  was  a 

;;  Sir  II.  Clinton  thinking  G.  Burgoyne  might  want  some 
cooperation  (though  he  had  not  called  for  it  in  any  of  hil 
le  tors),  offered  in  his  of  the  12th  September  to  make 
attempt  on  the  forts  as  soon  as  the  expected  reinforeemen 
shou  d  arnve  from  Europe.     Gen.  Burgoyne  fought  tuTlT 
le  of  Saratoga  on  the  I9th,  and  on  the  21st  tells  Gen.  Clin- 

Tfl  '     ^"  TT-  ""  '"'"  "  "^'""^^  "^  ""  ^"^™P*  ^vould  be 
ot  me.     t>ir  H.  Chnton  received  this  letter  the  29th  of  Sen- 

tember  and  moved  the  2nd  of  October.     On  the  27th  Sept , 
G.   Gates  [Burgoyne?]  had  received  information   that  hi 
galhes,  gunboats,  &c.,  on  Lake  George  had  been  surprised 
and  destroyed  by  Gen.  Lincoln,  and  he  had  consequently 
lost  h.s  communication  with  Canada.     'Tis  pity  he  had  not 

*  Clinton  MS. 


fuiawer. 


OPERATIONS  ON  TIIK  IIUOSOJT.  103 

instantly  Mkn  back  to  recover  ti.em ;  but  Ibinking,  '.ia  pro. 
«.-ncd,  be  w,»  under  orders  to  Albany,  bo  reque,;  .„  kio,v 
of  me  wbe  ber  I  ean  meet  bim  tbero  or  .up  .ly  bin,  after- 

But  tbo  results  of  tbe  second  Saratoga  battle,  on  tbe  7th 
October,  rather  moditied  tbo  Britisb  plans 

"On  the  very  day  of  this  action,  by  givin"  tbe  enemv 
jealousy  for  the  Kast  side.  Sir  ,1.  cLL  llnded  on  Z 

L  vefr  ,  r""'"'"  "'  Tbunderberg,  and  by  a  tolera- 
biy  well  combmed  move,  and  tbe  ,vondorf„l  exertion  of  the 
troops  under  Ins  command,  took  all  tbe  forts  by  assault."  f 

rius  aecomphsbed,  the  partial  attempt  to  succor  Burgoyne 
and  to  brmg  „m  supplies  was  proceeded  in,  and  Vauian 
was  embarked  fof  that  purpose _" „fu,r  tbe  chain  was 
h^ken,  the   cl«=vaux-de.frieze  removed,  and  provision  f" 

.000  men  for  C  months  prepared General  Vuugban 

bad  orders  to  pr<,ceed  immediately  as  bigb  as  his  pilots  could 
carry  hm,  to  fee  for  Burgoyne,  cooperate  with  him,  and  join 
Iiim  if  required."  •' 

IJut  on  the  13th  October,  Burgoyne  was  compelled  to  open 
negotiations  for  surrender;  and  neither  Clinton  nor  VauXn 
accomplished  more  for  his  relief  than  the  destruction  at  Eso. 
pus.  Disappointed  in  their  chief  hope,  the  British  presently 
eturned  to  New  York :  -  that  such  was  mainly  the  motive  o^ 
the  expedition  sufficiently  appears  by  the  important  private 
memorandums  of  Sir  Henry  himself,  as  above  printed. 


*  Clintou  MS. 


flbid. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Phecious  time  was  spent  in  fruitless  nttempts  to  brin-- 
Waslnng  on  to  battle  on  equal  ground  in  Jersey,  e«,  S 
resolved  to  e.reumvent  our  army  by  means  of  the  fleeraL 
o  „pp,«aeh  Pbiladelphia  from  .notber  quarter.    tLs  eheme 
d.  approved  by  some  of  his  immediate  subonlinates,  ,vas  care 
funy  eoneealed  from  the  rest  of  the  troops,  who,  o'n  the  23d 

Lt  %  .      '  T".  """"■''"''  "'  ^'»''°>''  '"  ?<"■'■««'  igno- 
rance of  tbeir  destination..     The  media  JcHia  of  the 

sehoolmcn-the  ealeulation  of    possible  eonsequenees  of 

events  that  did  not  happen-can  alone  determine  the^tTec 

of  another  plan  of  the  eampaign.     Had  a  powerful  Zl 

marehed  northwardly  to  aet  in  conneetion  with  Bur^y^ 

'he  surrender  at  Saratoga  might  have  been  prevented  tl.e 

royal  army  increased   in   strength,   and  time  still    eft 

operate  agau,st  Philadelphia  ere  the  season  closed.    A  few 

»h.ps  of  war  threatening  the  New  Engh.nd  coast  or  cannon! 

«d.„g  Boston,  m_ight  have  dmwn  to  another  quarter  the  II l 

..a  that  thronged  to  the  aid  of  Gates.    Nor  did  all  his  iZr 

eventually  much  better  Howe's  situation.     At  Brunswick  I 

was  but  s,x,y  miles  from  Philadelphia,  at  Elk,  he  was  set 

Hie  movo  to  the  southward   LT  1,T  '  "''°  "'"  ""'  "Probate 

General  liurgo vL  SerM  r     ,     .  T^"^  "'  "  «'«P'«'i»n  »lth 

.,  n."tsjr  wih^;;  ;e;rarfriZ^rrA,^r'^i^r 

opinion  that  Philadelphia  had  better  close  than  If  ,T'  ^"'"'"'^ 
required  an  army  to  defend  it."  -clrZm         '       ''  '"""P"'^"'  "^  " 


ACTION  AT  DRANDYWINE.  107 

enty  ;  and  if  our  army's  iHisition  was  less  strong  at  Brantly- 
u  ine,  Its  spirit  was  better  and  its  force  increased 

When  ho  appeared  in  the   Chesapeake,  his  brother  the 
Admiral  with  line  and  plummet  and  in  seaman's  garb  lead- 
ing the  boat  that  guided  the  fleet's  course,  it  was  questioned 
at  I  hilade  phia  whether  Sir  William  aimed  at  Baltimore,  or 
a  yet  higher  point.     All  doubts  vanished  on  the   2oth  of 
August  when  ho  landed.     The  debarcation  was  flnished  on 
the  27th;   and  on  the  28th,  he  marched  seven  miles  and 
fixed  hemd-quarters  at  the  head  of  Elk,  posting  the  troops  two 
miles  off.^    On  the  3rd  of  September,  he  led  part  of  his  army 
toAickms  tav-ern;  the  light  infantry  and  yiigers  skirmishing 
with  the  American  advanced  parties  for  a  mile  and  a  hal^ 
and  losing  a  dozen  men  in  killed  and  wounded.     Knyphau- 
sen  had  been  detached  across  Elk  Ferry  to  Cecil  Court-house 
to  collect  stores,  and  now  rejoined  at  Aickin's;  and  on  the 
Gth  Grants  division  also  came  up.     Hence,  by  easy  stages, 
with  Galloway  in  his  coach  following  in  the  rear,  Howe 
passed  on  through  a  fertile  and  friendly  country;  while  on 
Sunday  the  24th  of  August,  our  army  had  marched  through 
Philadelphia  to  meet  him.     Cheerful  but  half  naked,  their 
hats  adorned  with  green  boughs,  and  drum  and  fife  soundinc. 
merrily,  they  came  down  Front  and  up  Chestnut  streets,  and 
so  over  the  Schuylkill.     On  the  11th  of  September,  the  citi- 
zens hearkened  to  the  roar  of  the  artillery;  and  gathering  by 
groups,  according  to  their  political  inclinations,  in  the  squares 
or  public  places,  speculated  in  hope  or  in  fear  upon  the  re- 
sults of  the  day. 

It  was  an  unfortunate  day  for  America,  but  less  so  than 
might  have  been.  With  13000  men,  and  in  the  best  position 
the  region  afforded,  Washington  waited  the  attack.  He  could 
do  no  better.  By  a  larger  and  better  force,  and  by  manoju- 
vres  as  well  conceived  as  executed,  he  was  surprised  and 
driven  from  the  ground.  At  four  a.  m.,  Howe  and  Corn- 
walhs  marched  from  Kennett's  Square  with  their  left  column, 
led  by  Grey,  Mathew,  and  Agnew,  and  crossing  the  Brandy- 


<i '  i 

m 


^^ 


108 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRE. 


I'f 


%v..ie  above  and  undiscovered,  fell  on  our  right  flank  and  rear 
while  Knyphausen  forded  the  stream  in  front.     This  column 
had  advanced  seven  miles  from  Kennett's  Square,  and  com- 
ing on  the  field  about  ten  a.  m.,  began  a  heavy  cannonade. 
When  It  was  seen  that  Howe  had  arrived,  it  passed  the  ford 
storming  the  breastworks  we  had  thrown  up.     As  Moncrieff 
rushed  on  with  the  leading  files,  he  saw  an  American  how- 
itzer charged  with  grape,  and  pointed  to  sweep  away,  in  a 
moment  more,  himself  and  all  about  him.     The  matross  stood 
ni  the  act  of  applying  the  burning  match  ere  he  followed  his 
retreating  comrades.     "  J  will  put  you  to  death  if  you  fire ' " 
shouted  Moncrieff;  and  the  man,  startled  from  his  self-pos- 
session, dropped  the  match  and  fled.     Grey's  brigade,  con- 
sisting of  the  15th,  17th,  44th,  and  two  battalions  of  the  42d 
was  the  reserve  of  Cornwallis's  column,  and  was  not  en^a-ed' 
Its  character  was  so  high,  that  it  was  preserved  intact*  as  a 
recourse  in  case  Knyphausen  failed;  in  which  event  Cora- 
walhs  might  have  had  his  hands  full.     And  but  for  the  false 
mtelhgence  of  Sullivan's  videttes,  who  were  drinkin<.  at  a 
^vern  when   they  should  have   been   scouring  the  °road. 
Washington  would  probably  have  turned  the  tables  on  the 
German,  by  himself  crossing  the  Brandywine  and  crushin<. 
the  opposite  force  before  the  other  column  came  to  its  aid! 
Nightfall  found  our  army,  its  artillery  destroyed,  in  a  retreat 
that  might  have  easily  been  made  a  route.     Had  the  pursuit 
been  pressed  it  must  have  perished.     The  fatigues  of  the 
day  mduced  Howe  to  remain  that  night  on  the  battle-field. 
Smce  daybreak,  to  four  p.  m.,  when  the  onset  began,  one 
part  of  his  men  had  marched  seventeen,  the  other  seven 
miles.     Of  the  former.  Grey's  brigade  of  from  2000  to  3000 
choice  troops  were  on  the  spot,  ready  to  go  into  action;  two 
battalions  of  the  guards  and  four  of  grenadiers  had  been 
astray  m  a  wood  and  little  engaged;  nor  had  the  16th  dra- 
goons been  employed.     The  greater  part  of  Knyphausen's 
column  had  borne  no  active  part,  for  the  retreat  began  almost 
as  soon  as  it  moved  forward.     It  was  very  fortunate  thus 


ik  and  rear, 
liis  column 
,  and  com- 
cannonade. 
d  the  ford, 

Moncrieff 
rican  how- 
iway,  in  a 
tross  stood 
(lowed  his 
rou  fire!" 
s  self-pos- 
?ade,  con- 
f  the  42d, 
;  engaged, 
itact  as  a 
ent  Corn- 
'  the  false 
ling  at  a 
be  roads, 
3S  on  the 

crushing 
to  its  aid. 
a  retreat 
3  pursuit 
s  of  the 
ttle-field. 
gan,  one 
er  seven 

to  3000 
ion;  two 
ad  been 
6th  dra- 
hausen's 
n  almost 
ite  thus 


ACTION  AT  THE  PAOLI  TAVERN.  109 

for  America  that  the  darkness,  which  came  on  just  as  the 
whole  British  army  was  brought  into  possession  of  our  posi- 
t.on,  persuaded  Howe  to  discontinue  the  pursuit;  for  he  had 
at  command  a  force  which,  if  not  perfectly  fresh,  was  abun- 
dantly  so  in  comparison  with  the  fugitives,  many  of  whom 
had  marched  as  much  through  the  day  as  Knyphausen,  and 
all  would  have  had  as  long  a  journey  as  their  pursuers  ere 
they  should  be  overtaken.  An  immediate  pursuit  would  have 
gone  far  to  demoralize  and  break  up  our  troops,  and  pre- 
vented many  fro::,  rejoining  their  regiments  who  were  with 
them  the  next  day.* 

Knyphausen's  command  moved  on  the  12th  towards  Ches- 
ter;  and  on  tlie  16th,  the  sick  and  wounded  being  sent  to 
Wilmington,  the  army  advanced  to  Goshen,  where  theya^^ers 
and  l^ht  infantry  dispersed  some  parties  of  our  men.  °0„ 
the  18th,  starting  before  dawn,  it  struck  the  Lancaster  road 
and  commg  two  miles  towards  Philadelphia,  turned  into  that 
of  Swedes  Ford.     Here  an  opportunity  rose  to  give  Grey's 
division  that  active  service  it  had  missed  on  the  1 1  th     Wash 
ington  was  advised  on  the  18th  that  the  English  thought  him 
crushed,  and  were  leisurely  bringing  on  tiieir  main  army 
having  advanced  into  the  country  only  the  picked  light  troops. 
On  the  19th,  Wayne  wrote  that  he  was  closely  watchin^ 
tnem,  resolved  to  attack  the  instant  they  moved.     He  had 
approached  within  half  a  mile  of  their  left  flank  at  reveille- 
beat  that  morning,  but  found  them  perfectly  supine.     "  There 
never  was  nor  never  will  be  a  finer  opportunity  of  giving 
the  enemy  a  fatal  blow,  than  at  present,  _  for  God's  sake° 
push  on  as  fast  as  possible."     During  the  day  he  kept  on 
guard ;  and,  persuaded  that  his  position  and  force  were  un- 
known  to  the  enemy,  was  confident  of  success  in  the  move- 

f„l"i^^'^'  '"'*  ""  ""  ^PO"-*^"*  "'ght,  and  this  was,  perhaps,  their  greatest 

stead  o  T-  1      T-,"r''""'^  "•'*  •'^^•^  ^'Sn^  h"  "larch  at  nightfall  in- 
tead  of  eight  o'clock  in  the  moming --Clinton  MSS.    Napier's  words 

weX-  "'7  pf  '";  '^"""""^=  "««'^  ^-'-  J^-'^^l  beca^e'hs  sold  era 
were  fatagaed,  Pharsalia  would  have  been  but  a  common  battle." 


lie 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


m 


and  four  ffuns-  and  Smoii        i     •  ^^"^  ^«^  ^^OO  men 

■rapoilant  to  break  up  this  design  J  L  .  '°'""''  "  "«s 
"-  2U>,  Grey  marched  an^Ifjirl '^'T  ,""•=  *•  "'  »' 
..».mH-  defile,  with  the  XliZ'.l  "fj"'''''  »»''  » 
ftn'ry.  The  nature  of  the  serv.ee  »  ',  "''  ^''  "s'"  ■•"■ 
corps  ,v„s  known  through  , he  wnr  f  -f'"^"""'-  '^"^"^'^ 
perate  eondue.  in  fight    and  hZ.."^        ""•""""  ""'J  "«■ 

.-i-U  h,  a  "eo„st?tuti;n:u  ^^hltur  "V"'  -=-"-»■ 

thesivord."  Surprise  nnrf.„    j     ™^""'*  "'«  "■■b'irament  of 

Smallwo«l  lay  b^,'  T  :;'"?  "^'-^"^  ^^  ^"ceess,  for 

enforced  a  measure  that  he  L  JZ  '"T  ''A  "''  ^"^''^hman 

wl'icl.  he  got  in  Amenea  ,v     K      ""' '"  ^'""''"y'  «"<1  "y 

■nade  his  men  untrCe*!  !  '""'  "' ^''■■^''"  «'-^-    He 

Not  „  shot  ecu  dtetd  "tLTr-""'  ''"'"=''  <""  "-  A-'s 

"".one..    Wayne  him'jf'XT  "Tfierd  r '  '=""7'^  °"  ">» 

marvellous  virtues  of  eold  s.«.7\  .  .f      "  """  "''"' '"  'h'^ 

of  Grey's  movement,  and  Zk  ,'17''^  ""  "PP"*" 

precaution,  he  had  ii,  le  on^t '  ^      '  "T"^^''  '""'y  P™Per 

'ise  resistance.     At  four  a^,  T  ^  ""  ""'  '""^'>^'°"  '»  P™- 

'ho  light  of  his  fires^gldtd'h  'ir^trr  '"'='^'''  """ 

Americans,  unable  to  form  and  ^r?  ?     ■    '  """"P'    '■'''"= 

«  all,  were  instantly  ry'oneued^?^'""  ""'""'"^'^  »' "»' 

killed  and  wounded  at  150    Ue  V    vl  '"""""'  P"'  *« 

and  upwards:  two  rrun,  tn  ,  °'"''  '"^'"n  ^ays  800 

<ake„,  and  .IhiTe  f?;!  ™f  ^^^-"'^  -  -g^'r  prisoners  wcr 

Smallwood  in  march  for  therX"., '"  p"'^  '"''"'  """ 
twelve  casualties  returned  TZ  f'  ^"^^'"^  "'"•  b"' 
of  arms,  baggage,  a  d  s,ls  Thef  "  '"k"'"'  """o"-'"* 
ya'ley  Forge, °„„d  destZd  wtat  s^^  """'-■''  '"''"•"'' 
"•cy  could  not  remove     C/  ^P'"'  """  ">««  <*»» 

Thus  we  lost  7,000  barrels  of  fl„„r 


GERMANTOWN. 


Ill 


iiness."    He 
i^ern,  on  the 
-fore)  about 
!  1500  men 
and  militia, 
next  day  to 
urse,  it  was 
>e  A.  M.,  of 
'ests  and  a 
-<1  light  in- 
Wayne's 
1  and  des- 
as  charac- 
rament  of 
uccess,  for 
"glishman 
y,  and  by 
'^rei/.    He 
the  flints. 
ly  on  the 
'th  in  the 
apprised 
y  proper 
to  prac- 
2ed,  and 
p.     TJie 
y  or  no^ 
put  the 
lys  soo 
SI'S  were 
ht,  and 
ith  but 
n-Ioads 
owards 
I'e  that 
f  flour 


for  one  item.     Having  now  cleverly  got  between  Wu..iin«- 
ton  and  the  Schuylkill,  Howe  passed  that  stream  unop-ose'd 
below  the  Forge  and  descended  towards  Philadelph.  »  de- 
stroying powder-mills,  and  taking  a  few  prisoners  and  cannon 
on  the  route.     On  the  25th,  he  moved  in  two  columns  to 
Germantown;  and  on  the  26th,  says  a  royal  eye-witness,  at 
eleven  a.  m.,  Cornwallis,  with  3000  men,  and  accompanied 
by  Harcourt,  Erskine,  and  a  cavalcade  of  distinguished  offi- 
cers, as  well  as  Galloway,  Story,  the  Aliens,  and  other  lead- 
ing tones,  entered  the  town  among  the  loudest  acclamations 
of  the  loyal  population  who  had  »  too  long  suffered  the  yoke 
of  arbitrary  power."    Other  citizens  have  described  the  scenes 
of  that  day:  the  grenadiers,  steadfast  and  composed,  splen- 
didly equipped,  with  their  music  sounding  the  Ion-  unheard 
strains  of  God  save  the  King,  as  they  caught  at'' the  chil- 
dren's hands  in  passing,  with  friendly  greeting;  the  bearded 
Hessians,  terrible  in  brass-fronted  helmets,  keeping  step  to 
wild  strains  that  to  the  popular  ear  spoke  of  plunder  and 
pillage  in  every  note ;  the  closed  houses  ;  and  the  throngs  of 
citizens,  clad  in  their  best  array,  that  lined  the  streets  which 
they  had  patrolled  by  night  since  the  23rd,  in  suspicion  that 
the  retiring  Americans  were  disposed  to  fire  the  town.     A 
deputation  besought  Howe  not  to  give  it  up  to  plunder.  *  On 
the  25th,  he  sent  a  letter  to  Thomas  Willing,  assuring  the 
people  that  they  should  not  be  disturbed  if  they  remained 
tranquil.     Meantime  the  main  army  rested  at  Germantown, 
while  strong  detachments  moved  against  the  American  posts' 
that  still  commanded  the  Delaware  and  prevented  the  arrival 
of  the  fleet. 

The  loss  of  Philadelphia  was  grievous  to  the  Americans, 
and  almost  unlooked  for;*  and  Washington  determined,  by  a 

*  "Sept.  19, 1777.  This  morning  about  1  o'clock  an  express  arrived  to 
Congress  giving  an  account  of  the  British  Army  having  got  to  the  Swedes 
Ford  on  the  other  side  of  Schuylkill,  which  so  much  alarmed  the  gentle- 
men of  the  Congress,  the  military  officers,  and  otlier  friends  to  the  general 
cause  of  American  Freedom,  that  they  decamped  with  the  utmost  precip- 
itation and  m  the  greatest  confusion;  insomuch  that  one  of  the  delegates 


■1^' 


,i  .IM! 


|i<Bai| 


112 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


surprise  and  conp-de-inain,  to  give  Howe  such  a  blow,  ere 
his  transports  could  come  up,  as  to  overturn  the  plan.     Ger- 
mantown,  where  he  now  lay,  was  a  long,  narrow  villa^re  of 
sombre  moss-grown  houses,  solidly  built  of  a  dark  stone",  and 
each  surrounded  with  its  own  enclosure,  that  extended  for 
two  mdes  along  the  road  leading  southwardly  to  Philadelphia 
The  British  were  encamped  at  right  angles  across  the  town "; 
Greys  brigade  being  on  the  line  that  stretched  from  the  left 
to  the  Schuylkill.     The  people  of  the  neighborhood  were  not 
open  tones,  but  they  were  averse  to  the  war;  and  Howe  ap- 
pears  to  have  had  a  warning  of  what  was  stirring.     He  after- 
wards denied  that  he  was  surprised ;  but  it  is  not  probable 
that  he  anticipated  anything  like  so  heavy  an  attack  as  he 
received  from  our  whole  army  at  dawn  on  the  4th  October, 
feulhvan  and  Wayne  led  the  advance,  and  encountered  first 
tlie  post  where,  with  the  40th,  was  encamped  the  2nd  light  in- 
fantry  that  had  given  us  so  much  trouble  at  the  Paoli.  °rhese 
stood  their  ground  for  nearly  an  hour,  till  their  ammunition 
began  to  fail.     Our  men  now  took  ample  revenge.     Drivinr^ 
all  before  them  in  their  rage,  they  plied  the  bayonet  furious! 
ly,  and  it  was  not  until  many  were  thus  slain,  that  they  lis- 
tened to  their  officers  and  gave  quarter.     The  attack  was 
vigorously  pressed,  with  a  promise  of  being  successful;  but 
a  dense  fog  caused  everything  to  fall  into  confusion.     About 
120  men  of  the  40th  threw  themselves  into  a  lar-e  stono 
house,  from  which  they  kept  up  a  heavy  fire ;  the  drum  beat- 
mg  a  parley  to  summon  a  surrender  was  mistaken  for  a  re- 
treat ;  a  panic  seized  our  bewildered  troops ;  and  while  one 
band  believed  itself  in  the  full  tide  of  victory,  another  would 
be  hastily  retreating  thinking  all  was  lost.    Turning  his  front 
to  the  village,  Grey  led  his  brigade  to  close  quarters  with 
our  people  there,  and  repulsed  them.     Tiiey  gave  way  about 

y.  T,7'  ^''^'f"'"'  T  '"'"'''^''^ '"  ^  ""''y  ^"^"''  •»«»"«'•  to  vk\e  off  without 
a  saddle.  Thus  wc  have  seen  the  men,  from  whom  we  have  received,  and 
from  whom  we  st.U  expected  protection,  leave  us  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
^y  their  accounts)  a  barbarous,  cruel  and  unrelenting  enemy."  _  Morion 


I 


GERMANTOWN. 


113 


I  blow,  ere 
Ian.     Ger- 
village  of 
stone,  and 
tended  for 
iladelphia. 
the  town ; 
)m  the  left 
i  were  not 
Howe  ap- 
He  after- 
probable 
ick  as  he 
1  Octobei". 
tered  first 
I  b'ght  in- 
i.    These 
ununition 
Driving 
t  furious- 
they  lis- 
tack  was 
sful;  but 
About 
ge  stone 
um  beat- 
for  a  re- 
bile  one 
3r  would 
his  front 
ers  with 
ly  about 

ff  without 
iived,  and 
hands  of 
—  Morton 


the  same  time  in  other  quarters ;  and  the  retreat  becoming 
general,  the  pursuit  was  maintained  by  the  enemy's  cavalry 
as  far  as  the  Blue  Bell  Tavern,  full  eight  miles.  It  cannot  be 
denied  that  in  this  action  the  regulars  on  both  sides  behaved 
with  great  spirit;  and  that  the  American  retreat,  occurring 
as  it  did,  was  the  sudden  result  of  one  of  those  circumstances 
that  no  precaution  can  guard  against  with  new  troops.  But 
though  the  discipline  of  both  armies,  according  to  Grey,  was 
bad,  that  of  ours  was  the  worst.  "  You  have  conquered  Gen- 
eral Howe,"  said  a  foreign  officer  of  rank  to  Washington, "  but 
his  troops  have  beaten  yours."  On  the  first  and  tremendous 
sound  of  the  firing,  Cornwallis's  grenadiers  took  the  alarm 
Starting  from  Philadelphia  at  a  full  trot,  tbey  ran  the  whole 
way  to  Germantown,  and  came  breathless  to  the  field  just  as 
all  was  over.  The  Highlanders,  too,  came  on  at  speed,  keep- 
ing pace  with  the  cavalry.  In  fact,  the  detonations  were  so 
furious  and  incessant  and  from  so  many  quarters,  and  the 
thickness  of  the  fog  so  overwhelming,  that  while  the  com- 
bat lasted,  it  was  impossible  to  tell  in  what  force  or  with 
what  success  the  Americans  came  on.  At  11  a.  m.,  the  pro- 
digious clatter  of  battle  suddenly  hushed,  and  the  retreat  was 
conducted  in  comparative  stillness. 

The  casualties  on  either  side  were  severe.  Chief  among 
the  enemy  was  General  Agnew,  whose  brigade  had  supported 
Grey's.  He  is  said  to  have  been  slain  by  an  inhabitant  who, 
lying  in  ambush,  aimed  at  a  decoration  on  Agnew's  breast, 
and  shot  him  down.  Nor  was  our  loss  slight ;  and  the  next 
day  the  enemy  were  busily  employed  in  burying  our  dead. 
"  Don't  bury  them  with  their  faces  up,  and  thus  cast  dirt  in 
their  faces,"  said  a  kindly-hearted  British  soldier ;  "  for  they 
also  are  mothers'  sons."  It  is  said  by  a  distinguished  Ameri- 
can officer,  who  afterwards  carefully  examined  the  field,  that 
our  retreat  was  providential,  and  the  best  thing  that  could 
have  happened  for  us  ;  since  the  force  in  opposition,  and  the 
thoroughly  defensible  position  of  the  village  (by  reason  of  its 
numerous  stone  houses  with  enclosures,  each  of  which  could 


il 


in 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRli. 


be  mmh  a  s.ronghold  by  broken  parlies  of  the  enemy),  „o„M 
have  bi-ougbt  „bo»t  our  annihilation  with  returning  light 
Chnton  on  the  contrary  suggest,,  in  relation  to  ti.e  un' 

thTdO,.    "^  "'"f  T  ""^^  '"'^''"'  ^'""'''  """'o.  that 
.he  40th  occupted,  and  whieh  was  atlaeked,  as  the  British 

owned  at  the  time,  with  a  "  singular  intrepidity  ":_"  Had 
Washington  leftaeorps  to  observe  this  house,  and  p^c^eded 
II..  re  ,s  no  sayng  what  might  have  been  the  eonsequence."  • 
Uunng  tlie  eontest,  a  Lieutenant  Whitman,  of  Keadintr 
was  s  truek  down  by  the  enemy,  and  lea  for  dead.    lutZ 
aged  to  erawl  fi„m  the  scene  to  a  house  in  Washington  Lane 
where  be  was  sheltered  and  cared  for.    Soon  after  the  action; 
on  dtscovcrmg  that  an  American  offlcer  was  thus  concealed 
w.th,n  their  hues,  the  British  put  both  Whitman  and  hi,  host 
under  arrest.    In  this  emergency  the  wonnded  man,  ha  "I 
had  probably  some  knowledge  of  Andr,5  during  his  conflne- 
■nent  at  Lancaster  or  Carlisle,  contrived  to  procure  an  in. 
terview  w.th  Inm ,  which  terminated  in  Andre's  obtaining 
«  w.  hdrawa  of  the  arrest,  and  permission  for  Whitman": 
remam  unmolested  in  Germanlown  until  he  was  in  a  ZZ 
..on  to  return  to  his  home.     Such  circumstances  asXse 
presen    the  best  evidences  of  the  nature  of  that  dispo  Hon 
which  so  entirely  endeared  its  possessor  to  all  whom  he  en- 
countered. 

A  Philadelphian  who,  preserving  friendly  relations  with 
Ihe  English,  writes  nevertheless  very  impartially,  thus  dc- 
ribe,  the  posture  of  affairs  on  the  day  after  the  battle,  and 
the  language  then  l.eld  in  the  royal  qu.arters :  _ 

Oct.  ith.     This  morning  I  went  to  Germanlown  to  see 
IIH^  destruction  and  collcel,  if  possible,  a  true  account  of  the 
action.     From  the  accounts  of  the  ofHcers,  it  appears  that 
the  Americans  surprised  the  Piequct  Guards  of  the  E„„  ^ 
which  consisted  of  the  2nd  Battalion  Grenadiers,  somf  n 
fantry  and  the  40th  regiment:  altogether  about  500.    The 
English  sustained  the  fire  of  the  Americans  for  near  an  hour 

*  Clinton  MS. 


GERMANTOWN. 


115 


Mt 


ly),  would 
"ig  light. 

the  un- 
)use,  that 
le  British 
—  "Had 
roceeded, 
uence."  * 
Reading, 
He  mari' 
on  Lane, 
le  action, 
oncealed 
his  host 
,  having 
confine- 
i  an  in- 
btaining 
traan  to 
a  eondi- 
13  these 
position 

he  en- 

is  with 
lius  do- 
le, and 

to  see 
of  the 
fs  that 
nglish, 
ne  in- 
TJie 
1  hour 


(their  numbers  unknown)  when  they  were  obliged  to  retreat, 
the  ammunition  of  the  Grenadiers  and  Infantry  being  ex- 
pended.    The  40th   regiment  retreated  to  Chew's  House, 
being  about  120  men,  and  supported  the  fire  of  the  Ameri- 
cans on  all  sides.     The  Americans  came  on  with  an  unusual 
firmness,  came  up  to  the  doors  of  the  liouse,  which  were  so 
strongly  barricaded  they  could  not  enter.    One  of  the  Amer- 
icans went  up  to  a  window  on  the  side  of  the  house  to  set 
fire  to  it,  and  just  as  he  was  putting  a  torch  to  the  window 
lie  received  a  bayonet  through  his  mouth  which  put  an  end 
to  his  existence.     The  Americans  finding  tlio  fire  very  se- 
vere retreated  from  the  house :  a  small  party  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, which  had  gone  in  near  the  middle  of  Germantown,  and 
had  sustained  the  fire  in  the  street  for  some  time,  perceived 
the  British  coming  up  ia  such  numbers  that  they  retreated. 
General  Grey  with  5000  men  pursued  them  to  the  Swedes 
Ford.     His  men  being  very  much  fatigued  and  very  hungry 
and  the  Americans  running  so  fast,  that  the  General  gave 
over  the  chase,  and  returned  to  his  old  encampment.     The 
greatest  slaughter  of  tlie  Americans  was  at,  and  near  to  Chew's 
Place  :  most  of  the  killed  and  wounded  that  lay  there  were 
taken  off  before  I  got  there  ;  but  three  lay  in  the  field,  oppo- 
site to  Chew's  Place.     The  Americans  were  down  as  far  as 
Mrs.  Maganet's  tavern.     Several  of  their  balls  reached  near 
to  Head  Quarters.     From  all  which  accounts  I  apprehend, 
with  what  I  have  heard,  that  the  loss  of  the  Americans  is 
the  most  considerable.    After  I  had  seen  the  situation  at 
Chew's  House,  which  was  exceedingly  damaged  by  the  balls 
on  the  outside,  I  went  to  Head  Quarters,  where  I  saw  Ma- 
jor Balfour,  one  of  General  Howes  aide-de-camps,  who  is 
very  much  enraged  with  the  people  around  Gormantown  for 
not  giving  them  intelligence  of  the  advancing  of  Washington's 
army  ;  and  that  he  should  not  be  surprised  if  General  Howe 
was  to  order  the  country  for  12  miles  round  Germantown  to 
be  destroyed,  as  the  people  Avould  not  run  any  risque  to  give 
them  intelligence  when  they  were  fighting  to  preserve  the 


li 


116 


LIFE  OF  3IAJ0R  ANDR6. 


liberties  and  properties  of  the  peaceable  inhabitants.  On 
our  settin;?  off  we  see  His  Excellency  the  General  attended 
by  Lord  Cornwallis  and  Lord  Chewton ;  the  General  not 
answering  my  expectations."  * 

At  this  time  the  grenadier  and  the  light  infantry  company  of 
each  regiment  was  separated  from  its  companions,  and  mar- 
shalled respectively  in  battalions ;  which  explains  the  apparent 
weakness  of  some  of  the  English  corps,  thus  deprived  of  a 
large  part  of  their  nominal  strength.     On  the  19th  October, 
the  army  moved  at  daylight  for  Philadelphia  ;  McLane,  and 
a  few  American  light-horse  disguised  as  British,  following 
close  on  ♦'  jir  heels  to  the  heart  of  the  city,  picking  up  a  few 
royal  oih    rs  and  just  missing  the  adjutant-general  and  Howe 
himself.f     The  General's  quarters  were  at  the  house  of  our 
General  Cadwalader,  who  was  with  AVashington.     His  men, 
in  fine  condition  and  anxious  to  be  led  against  the  Ameri- 
cans, were  encamped  from  below  Kensington  on  the  Dela- 
ware nearly  to   the  Schuylkill.     The  cause  named   in  de- 
spatches for  this   move  was  to  obtain  a  more   convenient 
position  for  the  reduction  of  our  river-forts;   but  in  camp 
it  was  attributed  to  the  lines  at  Germantown  being  too  large 
for  ready  defence.     The  experience  of  the  4th  was  not  lost. 

*  Morton  MS. 

t  Allan  McLane  was  one  of  the  best  men  in  our  service.    In  the  emer- 
gency of  the  war,  he  consumed  all  the  table  and  household  linon  of  his  fam- 
ily in  clothing  his  troopers,  and  throughout  was  as  active  in  our  cause  as 
he  was  intelligent  and  brave.    On  one  occasion  he  entered  Philadelphia 
disguised  as  a  countryman;  and  having  transacted  his  business,  was  re- 
turning to  camp,  when  he  was  overhauled  by  an  English  picket.    The 
commanding  officer  questioned  him  narrowly;  but  the  supposed  peasant 
was  adroit  in  his  replies,  and  ready  to  agree  that  Washington  would  not 
adventure  an  attack.    The  Englishman  gave  him  meat  and  drink,  and  dis- 
missed him  after  he  was  thoroughly  warmed  at  the  watch-fire.  McLane  hur- 
ried to  his  own  station,  led  out  his  troopers  and  some  infantry,  and  pres- 
ently brought  away  captive  the  whole  party  of  the  outpost  that  had  so 
hospitably  entertained  him.    Had  he  failed  in  the  onset,  or  been  taken,  his 
fate  would  certainly  have  been  the  gallows.   This  authentic  anecdote  shows 
that  a  patriotic  soldier  will  shrink  from  no  means  of  helping  the  state  at  the 
peril  of  his  own  life. 


OCCUPATION  AND  FORTIFICATION  OF  PHILADELPHIA.    117 


Howe's  plan  was  now  to  fortify  this  city,  so  that  it  could  be  held 
by  a  small  garrison,  while  he  took  the  field.     The  troops  that 
entered  with  Cornwallis  had  been  quartered  at  the  State 
House,  the  Bettering  (or  Poor)  House,  &c.,  and  had  at  once 
set  to  fortifying  the  river  front  against  our  ships  and  galleys. 
The  disposition  made  of  the  main  army  placed  the  Hessian 
grenadiers  on  Noble  and  Callowhill,  between  5th  and  7th 
streets ;  the  British  grenadiers,  4th,  40th,  and  55th,  &c.,  on 
the  north  side  of  Callowhill,  from  7th  to  14th  streets ;  eight 
other  regiments  were  on  the  high  grounds  of  Bush  Hill,  from 
14th  Street  in  about  a  line  with  Vine  to  the  upper  Schuylkill 
Ferry,  near  which  was  a  Hessian  post ;  while  the  yagers  were 
on  a  hill  at  22d  Street  and  Pennsyl     nia  Avenue.     Infantry 
corps  were  at  8th,  near  Green  strec      and  by  13th,  on  the 
Kidge  Road.     The  16th  dragoons  and  three  foot  regiments 
were  by  a  pond  between  Vine  and  Race,  and  8th  and  12th 
streets;  and  a  body  of  yiigers  at  the  Point  House  on  the 
Delaware.     When  winter  came  on,  the  men  were  quarterud 
in  the  public  buildings  and  in  private  houses,  and  in  the  old 
British  barracks  in  the  Northern  Liberties.     The  artillery 
were  on  Chestnut,  from  3d  to  6th  streets,  and  their  park  in 
the  State-House  Yard,  now  Independence  Square.     On  the 
north  side  of  the  town,  ten  redoubts,  connected  by  stro':;^ 
palisades,  Avere  erected,  from   the  mouth  of  Conoquonoke 
Creek,  on  the  Delaware  near  Willow  Street,  to  the  Upper  or 
Callowhill  Street  Ferry.     They  were  thus  situated  :  —  near 
the  junction  of  Green  and  Oak  streets,  where  the  road  then 
forked  for  Kensington  and  Frankford  ;  a  little  west  of  Noble 
and  2nd  streets;  between  5th  and  6th,  and  Noble  and  Button- 
wood  streets  ;  on  8th  street,  between  Noble  and  Buttonwood ; 
on  10th,  between  Buttonwood  and  Pleasant ;  on  Buttonwood, 
between  13th  and  Broad;  on  15th,  between  Hamilton  Street 
and  Pennsylvania  Avenue ;  at  18th  Street  and  Pennsylvania 
Avenue;  at  21st  and  Callowhill  streets;  and  on  the  Schuyl- 
kill bank  near  the  Upper  Ferry.     These  works  were  begun 
October.     The   countrv  before  tliem  tr 


country 


rds 


ft-  *<'*!9l^ 


• 


118 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


the  Schuylkill  was  hilly,  but  towards  the  Delaware  level  and 
comparatively  open,  though  dotted  with  woods  and  cut  up  by 
the  stout  rail-fences  of  farms.  The  latter  were  soon  seized 
for  fuel  by  the  English,  and  orchard  and  grove  went  down 
for  the  palisades  and  abatis  of  the  works ;  the  lines  of  which 
were  still  evident  in  1780,  as  well  as  the  ruined  houses  and 
defaced  fields  they  had  occasioned.  The  work  at  the  righl 
or  Delaware  end,  was  a  large,  square  battery,  with  a  handsoma 
saw-shaped  parapet,  each  redan  of  which  held  three  men.* 
On  the  23d  of  October,  a  body  of  English  brought  up  the 
floating  bridge  from  the  lower  (Gray's),  and  established  it  at 
the  Middle  Ferry,  where  it  was  guarded  by  the  camp  of  the 
71st,  and  a  fascine  redoubt  at  Chestnut  Street.  It  was 
thought  by  some,  however,  that  the  Upper  Ferry,  as  nearer 
to  the  camp  and  possessing  advantages  of  ground,  was  its 
proper  place. 

It  is  difficult  to  recognize  to-day  the  Philadelphia  of  1777, 
though  it  was  then  the  largest  and,  in  many  senses,  the  me- 
tropolitan city  of  America.     Its  extent  was  from  Christian 
Street  on  the  south  to  Callowhill  on  the  north,  and  its  greatest 
width  east  and  west  was  to  9th  Street,  between  Arch  and 
Walnut.     Its  legitimate  population,  when  all  were  at  home 
who  were  now  with  our  army,  may  have  possibly  approached 
30,000.     The  exact  returns  of  the  city  and  liberties,  made  to 
Howe,  in  October,  1777,  show  4,941  males  under  eighteen; 
4,482  over  eighteen  and  under  sixty;  and  12,344  females 
of  all  ages ;  a  total  of  21,767.     The  only  streets  parallel  with 
the  river,  that  were  closely  built  up,  were  3d,  Water,  and 
Front;— groves  and  gardens,  hills  and  ponds,  were  inter- 
spersed  through  the  greater  portiou  of  the  place.    Above 
6th  or  7th  streets  was  generally  open  country,  and  the  low 
meadows  of  Moyamensing  and  Passyunk  abounded  in  game. 
The  Delaware  shore  was  open  in  places  where  there  were 
not  wharves;  and  the  better  classes  resided  in  its  vicinity,  in 

*  The  streets  are  named  as  they  now  exist,  without  regard  to  the  open 
lands  when  the  works  were  thrown  up. 


CHARACTER  OF  nilLADELPIIIA  IN    1777.  119 

Water,  and  Market,  and  below  Dock  in  Chestnut  and  Walnut 
streets ;  after  the  war  tJieir  mansions  became  the  resorts  of 
trade.  Such  as  it  was,  Jefferson  declares  Philadelphia  to 
have  been  handsomer  than  London,  far  handsomer  than 
Paris. 

Social  rank  too  was  strongly  marked.    The  gentry  eon 
listed  as  well  of  the  original  Quaker  families  —  rich,  respecta- 
ble, but  by  religion  averse  to  the  gayeties  of  the  world  — as 
of  another  class,  chiefly  of  the  English  church,  who  often 
were  or  had  been  connected  with  the  proprietary  government, 
and  who  gave  its  tone  to  the  fashionable  society  of  the  day. 
Many  of  these  had  travelled  abroad,  and  their  houses  were 
decorated  with  valuable  prints,  or  copies  of  great  masters. 
Lord  Carlisle  describes  the  good  style  of  living  among  the  chief 
people  in  1778;  and  the  pleasures  of  the  table  being  almost 
the  only  carnal  vanity  that  it  was  lawful  for  a  Quaker  to  in- 
dulge in,  we  need  not  wonder  that  even  then  the  city  was  fa- 
mous for  its  choice  Madeira  and  French  wines,  and  its  West 
India  turtle.    John  Adams  went  into  ecstasies  over  the  fare 
that  was  set  before  him.     Chastellux  says  the  formal  dinner- 
hour  was  five  or  six  p.  m.,  and  goes  into  the  details  of  the  re- 
past as  minutely  as  Adams :  the  roast  meat  and  warm  side- 
dishes,  the  swc^t  pastry  and  confectionary ;  and,  the  cloth  beinc^ 
removed,  the  fruit  and  nuts,  the  toast-drinking,  and  the  coffee 
that  warned  the  guests  to  rise.    The  ladies  he  found  singularly 
well-informed  an^  attractive,  and  praises  the  skill  with  which 
the  harpsichord  was  touched,  and  the  pretty  timidity  of  the 
songstress.     They  dressed,  he  says,  with  elegance.    Another 
Frenchman  paints  them  as  tall  and  well-formed ;  their  feat- 
ures regular,  and  complexions  fair  but  often  without  color; 
their  carriage  less  graceful  than  noble.     The  hair  was  often 
dressed  without  powder,  and  brought  up  high  over  the  top  of 
the  head.     It  was  the  belles  of  this  place  and  time  whom 
Mrs.  Adams  characterized  as  "a  constellation  of  beauties." 
"With  what  ease,"  says  another  lady,  "have  I  seen  a  Chew, 
<i  Penn,  an  Oswald,  an  Allen,  and  a  thousand  other?-  entcr- 


»    *•" 


120 


LIFE  OF  MAJOU  AND1{£. 


tain  n  lnrn;c  circle  of  both  sexes;  the  conversation,  without 
the  nid  of  onrds,  never  flagging  nor  seeming  in  the  least 
strained  or  stupid."     The  leaders  of  this  circle  were  decid- 
edly loyal ;  they  rather  ignored  Mrs.  Washington  when  she 
passed  through  the  town  in  1775-G,  and  were  in  the  height 
of  their  glory  during  Howe's  occupation ;  of  all  which  the 
whigs  took  ample  revenge,  by  shutting  them  out  from  the 
assefnblies,  after  the  British  had  gone  away.     Nevertheless 
it  may  be  remarked,  that  probably  in  no  other  American  city 
is  there  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  better  society  composed 
of  the  same  families  whose  members  constituted  it  a  century 
ago  as  in  Philadelphia.*     The  dress  of  the  gentry  was  gen- 
erally a  little  in  arrear  of  the  English  fashions.     Powdered 
heads  with  clubs  and  queues ;  silver  or  gold-laced  coats  of 
broadcloth,  of  almost  every  hue  save  red  (which  color,  on 
any  but  u  soldier's  back,  bespoke,  at  this  time,  "  a  Creole,  a 
Carolinian,  or  a  dancing-master  ")  ;  knee-breeches  and  stock- 
ings, low  shoes  and  large  buckles,  made  up  their  attire.    Gold 
watches  were  rare  ;  silver  were  used,  even  by  men  of  rank. 
Every  one  of  a  certain  class  was  at  least  known  by  appear- 
ance ;  a  strange  gentleman  was  instantly  observed.     Many 
of  these  large-acred  men  were  moderate  in  their  political 
views,  favoring  neither  extreme,  but  content  to  abide  the 
result.     Some,  indeed,  embarked  their  all  on  either  venture. 
Cadwalader  and  Dickinson  followed  Washington  ;  Galloway, 
Allen,  Clifton,  sided  with  the  crown ;  but  the  most  adopted 
the  resolution  of  Ross,  who,  says  Graydon,  stuck  to  his  ease 
and  Madeira,  and  declared  for  neutrality ;  let  who  would  be 
king,  he  well  knew  that  he  should  be  subject.     The  large  pri- 
vate houses  were  few,  but  their  appearance  was  stately  and 
imposing.     That  in  High,  near  Gth  Street,  occupied  as  Sir 

*  Biimaby,  who  travelled  through  America  in  17G0,  particularly  notices 
the  beauty  and  elegance  of  the  women  of  this  city,  and  the  love  of  pleasure 
and  the  cultivated  tone  that  distinguished  its  society.  In  1778,  the  reader 
will  bo  amused  to  hear  that  among  the  young  ladies  of  Philadelphia  there 
were  no  books  so  charming  as  Juliet  Grenville,  Caroline  Melmuth,  and  the 
History  of  Mr.  Joseph  Andrews. 


CIIAUACTEK  OF  PIIILADKLl'IIIA  IN    1777. 


121 


William    Howe's   quarters,  was  subsequently  Washin^rtoirji 
abotle. 

;rhc  distinction,  so  strictly  drawn  before  the  war,  between 
the  gentleman  and  tlio  tradesman,  had  not  yet  worn  out ;  and 
people  still  dressed  and  lived  according  to  their  station.  The 
workman  was  apparelled  with  leather  breeches,  checked 
shirt,  coarse  flannel  jacket,  and  neat's  hide  shoes.  Porridge 
was  the  morning  and  evening  meal.  Domestic  scrvanta 
were  usually  negro  slaves,  or  German  and  Irish  redemp- 
tioners,  who  were  bought  and  sold  for  a  term  of  year.^.  The 
generahty  of  houses  were  plainly  furnished  with  rush-bot- 
tomed chairs,  pewter  platters,  wooden  trenchers,  delft-ware, 
and  the  like.  Silver  tankards  and  China  punch-bowLs  were 
evidences  of  prosperity,  as  were  the  small  mirrors  in  wooden 
frames,  and  the  mahogany  tea-boards  that  are  still  to  be  some- 
times met  with  in  the  lumber-rooms  of  old-time  houses. 
Glass  tumblers  were  rarely  seen  ;  a  dipper  for  the  punch- 
bowl, or  a  gourd  or  cup  for  the  water-pail,  supplied  those 
who  did  not  have  recourse  to  the  vessel  itself.  About  a 
dozen  churches  were  to  be  found  in  the  town  ;  but  the  Amer- 
icans had  removed  all  the  bells  ere  Howe's  arrival,  lest  they 
should  be  melted  by  the  enemy.  Chastellux  draws  a  strik- 
ing picture  o!  the  contrast  between  the  silent  watchfulness  of 
the  Quaker  service  and  the  music  and  chanting  of  the  next 
place  of  worship  he  entered,  which  appears  to  have  been  one 
of  the  Church  of  England.  The  streets  were  but  in  part 
paved  and  lighted;  and  bridges  in  several  places  were 
thrown  across  Dock  Creek,  which  flowed  up  into  the  very 
heart  of  the  town.  As  for  the  inclinations  of  the  majority 
of  the  people  that  Howe  found  there,  it  seems  clear  that  they 
were  loyal,  though  indisposed  perhaps  to  take  an  active  part. 
A  proposition  to  blacken  the  front  of  every  tory's  house,  that 
was  in  vogue  among  the  ultra  whigs  on  the  return  of  the 
city  to  the  American  sway,  was  quietly  put  aside  lest, 
it  would  seem,  it  should  proclaim  their  strength.  Just  so 
the  Romans  forbade  a  distinguishing  livery  to  their  slaves  ; 


i 


^:-i" 


122 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


qmniura  penculim  immmeret  si  servi  nostn  numerare  nos 
cceptssent.     Dr.  Franklin  says  that  the  Quakers,  then  a  nu- 
merous and  wealthy  people  in  Pennsylvania,  had  given  4o 
the  Revolution  "every  opposition  their  art,  abilities  and  in- 
fluence could  suggest";  and  it  is  probable  that  the  ill-usa-e 
which  many  of  the  sect  received  from  the  whigs  during  the 
war  would  have  led  to  armed  resistance,  were  such  a%tep 
consistent  with  their  pacific  principles.      As  it  was,  their 
sympathies  were  largely  with  the  British ;  nor  were  there 
wantmg  others  who,  unrestrained  by  conscientious  scruples 
were  apparently  ready  to  serve  the  crown.     Nor,  however 
we  may  condemn  their  actions  who  whether  passively  or 
actively  resisted  American  Independence,  should  we  uni- 
versally  impugn  their  motives.     The  lot  of  the  tories  of  the 
Revolution  was  cast  in  the  same  land  with  the  whigs ;  their 
education   was   under  the    same    political   and    social    in- 
fluence ;  many  of  them  were  of  character  unblemished  by 
aught  but  the  final  heresy,  and  of  families  honorably  identi- 
fied through  generations  with  the  history  of  the  country  and 
with  Its  private  benefactions ;  some  gave  their  lives,  others 
princely  estates,  to  witness  the  sincerity  of  their  belief.     To 
the  one  f.'de  as  to  the  other  we  may  look  for  and  find  equally 
conduct  susceptible  of  the  imputation  of  pure  or  of  impure 
instigation.     That  the  tories  erred,  was  and  is  the  conviction 
of  our  side  of  the  house.     The  very  act  by  which  they 
thought  to  establish  their  fidelity  sealed  their  guilt.     But  the 
standard  of  success,  by  which  they  are  so  often  jud-ed,  is  a 
poor  test  of  truth.     Weighed  in  this  scale,  another^urn  to 
affairs  would  have  made  them  heroes  and  justified  the  old 
Jacobite  paradox :  — 

Treason  doth  never  prosper—  what's  the  reason  ? 
Wliy,  when  it  prospers,  'tis  no  longer  treason. 


mei'are  nos 
then  a  nu- 
d  given  4o 
ies  and  in- 
e  ill-usage 
during  the 
jch  a  step 
was,  their 
vere  there 
3  scruples, 
',  however 
ssively  or 
I  we   uni- 
'ies  of  the 
igs;  their 
3ocial    in- 
lished  by 
>ly  identi- 
untry  and 
es,  others 
ilief.     To 
d  equally 
f  impure 
onviction 
lich  they 
But  the 
Iged,  is  a 
r  turn  to 
1  the  old 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Affairs  at  Philadelphia.  —  Disorders  and  Discontents.  —  Fall  of  Red  Bank. 
—  Andr6  follows  Grey  with  Howe  to  Whitemarsh.  —  Character  of  Sir 
William  Howe. 

In  the  spring  of  1777  a  clever  Philadelphia  writer  had 
divided  the  people  into  five  classes.     The  Rank  Tories  came 
first.     The  Moderate   Tories  were  such  as  preferred  the 
English  connection  of  1763,  valued  worldly  prosperity,  hated 
New  England,  and  loved   the  Rank  Tories.      The  Timid 
Whigs  distrusted  American  power,  the  cost  of  the  war,  and 
the  continental  paper-money;    but  were  not  disinclined  to 
Independence,  if  it  could  be  got.     Avarice  was  supposed  to 
be  their  mainspring.     The  Furious  Whigs,  says  the  writer, 
injure  the  cause  of  Liberty  as  much  by  their  violence  as  the 
Timid  Whigs  by  their  fears.     They  think  the  destruction  of 
Howe's  array  less  important  than  the  detection  and  punish- 
ment of  the  most  insignificant  tory  ;  that  the  common  forms 
of  justice  should  be  suspended  towards  a  tory  criminal ;  and 
that  a  man  who  only  speaks  against  our  common  defence 
should  be  tomahawked,  scalped,  and  roasted  alive.    They  are 
likewise  all  cowards,  who  skulk  under  the  cover  of  an  office, 
or  a  sickly  family,  whei;  they  are  called  on  to  oppose  the  foe 
in  the  field.     Woe  to  the  community  that  is  governed  by 
this  class  of  men.    Lastly,  he  enumerates  the  Staunch  Whigs 
—  temperate,  firm,  and  true;  friends  to  their  country,  but 
holding  life  and  goods  as  less  than  American  Independence. 
The  three  orders  first  named  now  prevailed  in  Philadelphia ; 
and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  majority  of  them  owed 
to  this  circumstance  their  conversion  to  opposite  sentiments. 
The  conduct  of  the  royal  army  was  far  from   satisfactorv. 


.  «^  W 


St,  Sp^^ 


iiiii^ 


124 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl-:. 


Ihe  Quakers,  habitually  benevolent  yet  tenacious  of  the  ri^rhtg 
of  property,  were  shocked  at  once  by  its  looseness  of  momis 
and  us  severity  of  discipline.     Their  effects  had  been  already 
diminished  by  American  exactions,  yet  they  were  reported 
to  have  made  a  free  gift  of  £6,000  to  the  British  on  their 
arrival,  and  to  have  subsequently  been  called  on  for  £20,000 
more.    1  heir  first  grievance  was  the  pillaging  to  which  the  cit- 
izens  were  subjected,  and  to  which  many  of  the  army  became 
so  accustomed  during  the  war,  that  its  reduction  on  the  peace 
was  the  means,  according  to  Scott,  of  inundating  Great  Brit- 
ain with  ruffians  of  every  description ;  so  that  in  Edinburgh 
alone  six  or  seven  disbanded  soldiers  would  be  under  sen- 
tence of  death  at  the  same  time.     While  yet  at  Germantown, 
Uie  33rd  though  a  pattern  regiment  in  the  field,  was  distin- 
guished for  Its  light  fingers ;  but  the  Hessians  were  the  bold- 
est operators.     Their  pay,  which  was  to  come  from  their  own 
sovereign,  was  not  provided  regularly,  and  their  discipline 
consequently  was  bad  enough  to  give  Howe  trouble  in  cor- 
recting It.     With  the  English  privates  they  did  not  get  on 
p  easaiUly  ;  arrogant,  full  of  the  idea  of  immediate  allofments 
of  land,  and  of  living  in  free  quarters  with  unlimited  license 
o  plunder,  they  incensed  the  inhabitants  to  such  a  de^rree 
that  many  a  farmer  who  hesitated  to  slay  his  fellow-country-' 
men,  thought  as  little  when  he  had  the  opportunity  to  shoot 
a  Hessian  as  a  hawk.     Their  officers  could  not  understand 
^hy  war  should  not  be  waged  here  as  they  had  seen  it  in 
Europe.     « No  American  town,"  they  said,  "has  been  laid 
under  contribution;  and  what  is  there  to  destroy.?    Wooden 
houses  deserted  of  their  inhabitants,  pigs,   and  poultry  t » 
In  the  general  confusion  that  prevailed  between  the  ar/ival 
of  the  army  and  its  final  going  into  quarters,  no  doubt  un- 
usual license  prevailed;  and  the  newspapers  of  the  day  are 
fined  with  notices  of  robberies,  several  of  them  upon  British 
othcers.      Seventeen  watchmen  were  hitherto   sufficient  to 
protect  the  city ;  but  when  the  army  and  fleet  swelled  the 
population  to  the  neighborhood  of  50,000,  a  hundred  and 


J  of  the  rights 
Jss  of  morals 
been  already 
ere  reported 
ish  on  their 

for  £20,000 
•hich  tlie  cit- 
rmy  became 
3n  the  peace 

Great  Brit- 
i  Edinburgh 

under  sen- 
ermantown, 
,  was  distin- 
re  the  bold- 
n  their  own 
r  discipline 
uble  in  cor- 
not  get  on 
!  allotments 
ited  license 
I  a  degree, 
•w-country- 
ty  to  shoot 
understand 

seen  it  in 

been  laid 
Wooden 
poultry ! " 
the  arrival 
doubt  un- 
le  day  are 
on  British 
fficient  to 
i^elled  the 
dred  and 


DISORDERS  AND  DISCONTENTS. 


12fi 


twenty  were  scarce  thought  enough.  A  stringent  proclama- 
tion of  the  General's  as  to  these  practices  was  issued  on 
the  7th  November;  but  it  proved  a  dead  letter  against  the 
disorders  that  in  one  or  another  form  had  irritated  some  of 
the  best  people.  The  neighboring  farms  were  freely  spoiled 
by  the  soldiery.  On  the  28th  September  one  of  Harcourt's 
dragoons  had  four  hundred  lashes  for  such  an  offence,  and 
another  was  hanged  ;  and  their  commander  gave  the  utmost 
offence  to  the  distressed  proprietors  by  his  peremptory  re- 
fusal to  listen  to  their  intercessions  to  spare  the  backs  and 
the  lives  of  his  troopers  who  had  robbed  the  king's  liegemen. 
About  the  same  time  a  foraging  party  brought  in  a  gi-eat 
number  of  cattle  from  the  neighborhood  of  Darby,  to  the 
discontent  of  their  owners.  On  the  19th  October  a  hundred 
Hessians  went  foraging,  or  rather  robbing,  among  the  farms 
where  now  stands  the  Naval  Asylum,  Their  officer  per- 
mitted them  to  take  all  the  vegetables  they  could  find.     A 

person  interested  thus  describes  the  scene: 

"  Being  afraid  they  would  take  our  cabbage,  I  applied  for 
a  guard  for  the  house  and  garden,  which  was  immediately 
granted,  and  by  that  means  prevented  our  cabbage  from 
being  plundered.  After  they  had  taken  all  John  King's 
cabbage  they  marched  off.  [I]  brought  our  cabbage  home. 
It  was  surprizing  to  see  with  what  rapidity  they  run  to  and 
with  what  voraciousness  they  seized  upon  John  King's  cab- 
bage and  potatoes,  who  remained  a  silent  spectator  t"©  their 
infamous  depredations." 

The  Hessians  repeated  their  visit  the  next  day,  taking 
everything  in  the  way  of  hay,  vegetables,  &c.,  that  they 
could  lay  hands  upon,  until  a  squad  of  Harcourt's  dragoons 
arrived  and  interfered,  and  made  them  go  back.  Bu°t  for 
weeks  the  thing  was  continued ;  the  officers  sanctioned  the 
plunder  of  vegetables,  &c.,  till  the  people  were  thoroughly 
provoked.  They  were  even  compelled  at  last  to  remove°and 
conceal  their  fences  lest  the  British  should  take  them  for 
fuel ;  and  the  fields  were  thus  left  open  and  unprotected. 


P 


126 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


Nor  was  it  till  the  9th  January,  1778,  when  the  patrol  was 
ordered  to  stop  and  examine  every  one  found  in  the  streets 
without   a   lantern  between  tattoo   (8.30   p.m.)  and  rev- 
breaker »  *  ""^^^  ''^^''^  ""*'  ^'^^"^  *""  ^^^  nocturnal  house- 
A  succession  of  skirmishes  had  ensued  along  the  lines  ever 
since  the  British  arrived.    On  the  27th  September,  a  can- 
nonade  was  kept  up  from  9  to  10  a.m.  between  four  guns 
m  their  shore-batteries  and  our  little  fleet  of  a  fricrate  of  34 
and  a  ship  of  18  guns,  four  row-galleys,  and  a  schooner,  till 
the  frigate  grounded  and  struck,  and  the  others  retired.    The 
schooner  as  she  came  down  lost  her  foremast  and  was  aban- 
doned.    At  3  p.  m.,  about  100  of  our  men  attacked  about  30 
liritish  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Naval  Asylum, 
(probably  of  Harcourt's  dragoons  who  were  posted  there,)  and 

t!    .  i'"''^'^''""^''^  *^'^^  ""^  ^^^'''  «ffi««'-^  «»d  two  men.    On 
the  4th  October,  after  shots  had  been  exchanged  for  an  hour 
without  effect,  three  American  columns,  with  two  field-pieces 
appeared  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  at  the  Middle' 
Ferry,  and  opened  a  general  fire  on  30  dismounted  dragoons 
who  guarded  it.     Reinforcements  arriving  to  the  latter,  our 
men  retreated  leaving  their  guns  by  the  water-side,  but  soon 
returned  and  bore  them  away.     Only  one  man  (an  Ameri- 
can) was  wounded  in  this  affair,  which  was  witnessed  by 
many  of  the  citizens.     On  the  6th,  300  wounded  British 
were  brought  from  Germantown  and  lodged  in  the  Seceders' 

w.*nf«t"''  "'''''''^  ""^  "'"  '*''  ^""^  ^"  ^«"S  ^^"^d  t°  produce  such  an  order 
we  may  suppose  some  personal  motive  now  prevailed  Perhaps  the  a2 
last  preceding  ,ts  appearance  may  have  had  an  effect.    The  following  notfc 

nidi  l/f  T/'rh  "-'^^''^  •^^"-  ^'  1^^«-  I^  >^o"'d  be  curiou!  TZ 
T  ■  T.^  ^"^  ^""^"^  '■  -  "  ^^'-^^  ^«*"«««^  ^««'«'-^-  Was  stolen  out  of 
a  house  m  Walnui  Street,  Sunday  evening  last,  the  following  arUdestiz 
A  Clare  coloured  ratteen  suit  of  clothes,  lined  with  blue  satin  SsC 
gledgo^d  buttons;  a  pair  of  white  casshner  breeches,  some  shirt  LSced 
^A.  with  everal  other  things:  also  a  ladies  black  silk  hat  and  cloak 
Whoever  will  secure  the  thief  and  effects  shall  receive  the  above  reward: 
and^for  the  effects  without  the  thief  Two  Guineas  upon  their  delil^yTo  t"e' 


HOWE'S  POSITION.  127 

and  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  churches,  and  the  old 
theatre ;  and  the  worst  injured  in  the  City  Hospital.  The 
wounded  Americans,  who  were  already  neglected,  were 
placed  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  in  two  new  houses 
m  4th  Street.  On  the  12th,  our  patrols  were  ranging  through 
all  t^e  vicinity  and  seizing  obnoxious  tories.  On  the  night 
of  the  6th  300  militia  had  entered  Chester  and  captured  The 
loyal  sheriff  of  Sussex  County,  for  whose  arrest  the  Delaware 
government  had  offered  $300  reward ;  and  at  4  a.  m,  on  the 
15th,  a  party  cut  the  rope  of  the  Middle  Ferry  and  exchanged 
platoon  fires  with  the  light  dragoons.  On  the  evening  of  the 
16th  the  troops  left  at  Wilmington,  who  it  was  supposed 
would  have  attacked  Red  Bank,  where  our  flag  was  hoVsted 
that  very  morning,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  leaving  their  sick 
and  wounded  at  Gray's  Ferry.  A  number  of  Hessians  fol- 
lowed  on  the  20th. 

Howe   had   written   to  Clinton  that  he  was   not   strong 
enough  to  open  the  Delaware,  and  ordered  reinforcements  to 
be  sent  to  him.     On  the  21st  October,  Donop  with  2500 
Hessians  marched  against  Red   Bank,  crossing  the  Dela- 
ware  in  flat-bottomed  boats  sent  up  by  night  from  the  fleet, 
and  passing  from  Cooper's  Ferry  to  Haddonfield,  where  a 
quantity  of  stores  were  captured.    This  post  and  that  on  Mud 
Island   each  about  five  miles  below  Philadelphia,  together 
^  with  the  chevaux-de-frise  they  protected,  controlled  the  navi- 
gation  of  the  Delaware.     Till  it  was  free  Howe's  position 
was  a  simple  cul-de-sac:    parted   from   his  supplies,   and 
scarcity  already  exhibited,  he  rested  within  a  triangle  of 
which  the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill  were  the  sides  and  his 
works  the  base.     If  the  attack  meditated  in  the  American 
camp  was  thus  made  dangerous,  so  also  was  his  own  removal : 
for  our  army  in  at  least  equal  numbers  lay  before  him,  and 
so  long  as  the  fleet  could  be  shut  out  there  was  a  prospect 
of  reducing  him  by  starvation,  or  by  a  ruinous  and  imperfect 
retreat  across  Jersey.     The  importance  of  clearing  the  way 
was  therefore  well  understood  by  "the  great  count,"  as  he 


'1 11 


\ 


128 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


was  callea  ,n  Philadelphia,  when,  for  the  especial  distinction 
ot  himself  and  his  men,  Donop  applied  ouL  of  turn  for  this 
command.     For  the  Americans  he  had  indeed  a  most  sov- 
ereign  contempt;  but  it  is  possible  that  other  circumstances 
may  have  governed  his  conduct.    There  were  feuds  in  the 
army ;  and  his  countrymen  had  been  freely  spoken  of.     The 
Americans  with  great  reason  regarded  them  with  utter  ab- 
horrence.    The  English  Opposition,  unmindful  of  the  treaty 
stipulations  that  sent  them,  perhaps  against  their  inclinations, 
to  this  country,  lavished  continual  contumely  on  their  heads, 
lo  the  sea-stock  of  old  hock  wine  their  chief  had  laid  in  ere 
sailing,  ministers  were  invoked  to  add  the  irresistible  tempta- 
tion of  plenty  of  sour-krout  for  « the  dear-bought  cut-throats  " ; 
and  m  the  coach  that  De  Heister  insisted  on  carrying  with 
him  over  the  ocean,  it  was  almost  wished  that  he  might  lie 
coffined  beneath   the  waves  like   Pharaoh   in  his  chariot. 
Iheir  services  were   ridiculed,  and  an  English  nobleman 
sang,  m  relation  to  officers  of  the  Brunswick  corps,— 

"  We  shall  not  with  much  sorrow  read 
How  Sclatzen,  Knotzen,  Blatzchun  bleed 

Unless  we  break  a  tooth." 

Howe  was  opposed  politically  to  ministers,  and  it  is  proba- 
ble these  and  other  diatribes   reached  head-quarters ;  and 
hough  Andre,  by  long  residence  in  Germany,  was  prepared 
to  live  in  friendly  relations  with  Donop,  all  of  the  army  were 
not.    De  Heister  had  already  gone  home  in  a  rage ;  and  it  is 
not  hkely  his  subordinates  were  less  sensitive.    A  sufficient 
rampart,  too  high  and  steep  to  be  carried  without  ladders 
and  surrounded  by  an  abatis  and  ditch,  constituted  the  fort  • 
It  was  defended  by  300  valiant  men.    On  the  morning  of  the 
22nd  October,  Donop  halted  just  beyond  its  cannon-shot,  and 
a  drum  followed  by  an  officer  brought  a  summons  to  surren- 
der.     "The  King  of  England,"  were   the  words,  "orders 
his  rebellious  subjects  to  lay  down  their  arms ;   and   they 
are  warned  that  if  they  stand  the  battle  they  shall  receive 
no  quarter."    The  garrison  replied  that  they  were  content 


m 


THE  ASSAULT  ON  RED  BANK.  129 

neither  to  give  quarter  nor  to  take  it.    At  4  r.  m.,  the  one- 

t^rstoTTh"  /?  "'^'r-""''  ""=  «---  -'""do 
the  storm     The  first  outworic  was  earried ;  and,  „i,h  shouts 

of  tnumph  and  waving  of  haU,-as  thinking   he  day  he  r 

own,  -  they  advaneed  against  the  abatis.     But  Donop  seel 

to  have  now  entertained  no  such  thought  of  victory.    ThTu" 

he  saw  success  was  almost  impossible,  he  resolved  to  proceed ! 

and  g,vmg  h,s  watch  and  purse  to  a  bastard  son  of  Lori 

ot  the  fight    It  was  8a,d  at  the  time  in  Philadelphia  that  he 
cons.dered  h.s  orders  to  be  peremptory,  and  indeed  they  were 
so  esteemed  there,  but  Howe  in  his  despatch  of  the  25  h 
s,mply  observes  that  they  were  "to  proceed  to  the  attack  ' 
wh,le  m  h,sNarrative  he  affirms  them  to  have  been  discretL 
a.7,  aceordmg  to  the  chances  of  suceeeding.    It  is  probabL 
a  Donop-s  haughty  spirit  could  not  brook  the  shame,  aftt 
all  that  had  passed,  of  returning  alive  and  unsuccessful.    Bu 
the  ratnpart  w^  unattainable  without  ladders  or  pioneers 
A  front  and  a  flank  fire  mowed  down  the  assailants.    T^ 
drummer  that  had  approached  the  fort  in  the  mornin-.  beat 
the  charge  at  their  head:  he  was  a  marked  man,  and  fel 
on  the  first  fire;  and  with  him  the  officer  who  br^u.ht   ho 

Z77  ^^'J'"^^""  ^"'o  vainly  with  their  sword  „„ 
the  abatts,  and  the  men  strove  to  tear  it  down  ,  they  fell  bv 
scores  m  the  attempt.     Donop  himself,  distinguished  by  his 

nS  '"if   C'  '""''""^  ^'""'' ""  "hioh  was  display  d 

he  order  he  bore,  was  struck  in  the  hip,  swooned,  and  was 

eft  for  dead.    A  few  of  his  men  sheltered  themselves  b" 

ncalh  the  parapet;  the  rest  fled.    When  all  was  over,  a 

feeble  vo.ce  was  heard  among  the  heaps  of  slain,  saying 

Whoever  you  are,  draw  me  hence."    He  was  ex  rie.Ld° 

and  our  men  demanded  of  him  if  he  was  still  determined  to 

give  no  quarter.    « I  am  in  your  hands,"  he  replied ;  "  you 

aTreT"  m  ^™"f  f":    Ascertaining  that  it  was  Mauduit, 

a  French  officer,  who  had  taken  him  up  _  "  Je  suis  content," 

I'ecMcd,  "je  meurs  entre  les  mains  de  riionncur  memo  " 


fTli] 


130 


LIFK  OF  MAJOIi  ANDRlS. 


Every  care  was  given  him,  for  "Washington  was  anxious  that 
he  should  be  saved  ;  but  he  died  ia  three  days.  He  was  in- 
timate with  St.  Germain,  tlie  French  minister  of  war ;  and 
his  last  hours  were  bestowed  on  a  letter  recommending  Mau- 
duit  to  his  favor.  "  It  is  finishing  a  noble  career  early,"  he 
calmly  said  when  the  end  approached  ;  "  but  I  die  the  vic- 
tim of  my  ambition  and  of  my  sovereign's  avarice."  In  Eng- 
land, Townshend  satirically  suggested  that  proper  care  and 
twenty  pounds  sterling  would  have  provided  ladders,  and 
saved  to  the  Treasury  the  cost  of  600  slain  Hessians  at 
forty  pounds  a  man. 

"  Sir  William's  Conquests  raise  a  smile. 
Lo,  Red-Bank  yields,  and  eke  Mud  Isle, 
Which  Hessians  storm'd— pell-mell! 
The  ditch  was  wet  — they  had  no  bladders, 
The  wall  was  high  —  they  had  no  ladders. 
So  Donop  fought  and  fell !  " 

But  it  was  not  until  a  month  later  that  the  works,  so  skil- 
fully  planned  by  the  unfortunate  Coudray,  were  beaten  down 
by  the  royal  batteries  to  an  extent  which  compelled  their  evac- 
uation, and  left  Lord  Howe  master  of  the  stream.     Mean- 
time small  parties  of  our  people  kept  up  a  constant  disturb- 
ance  along  the  lines,  approaching  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
Kensington  outposts.      A  royal  detachment,   crossing    the 
Schuylkill  on   the  22nd,  broke  up  the   floating  bridge  at 
Gray's,  and  brought  it  up  to  the  Middle  Ferry.     On  the 
2Gth  the  picket  on  the  farther  side  was  attacked  for  fifteen 
minutes  by  our  people  till  a  regiment  had  crossed  the  bridge 
for  its  relief;  but  soon  after  the  floods  came  out  and  carried 
the  structure  away.      These  little  affairs  kept  the  enemy 
perpetually  in  motion.     They  were  busied  also  with  building 
two  floating  batteries  on  the  Schuylkill,  which,  though  when 
launched  were  too  leaky  for  use,  were  presently  put  in  bet- 
ter trim  and  sent  down  against  Red  Bank.     Three  or  four 
brigs  and  sloops  with  provisions  seem  to  have  slipped  up 
from  the  fleet  on  the  11th  November:  but  over  300  sail 


Hi  i  i'j: 


FALL    OF   KED  BANK. 


131 


still  lingered  below,  by  whose  absence  12,000  men  had  al- 
ready been  detained  in  idleness  for  seven  precious  weeks 
Excessive  rains  and  the  cutting  of  the  dykes  retarded  the 
Enghsh  works.    In  relieving  guard,  their  men  marched  some- 
times breast-deep  in  water.     The  American  works  were  how- 
ever now  ceasing  to  be  tenable ;  that  on  Mud  Island  was  aban- 
doned on  the  ICth ;  and  on  the  18th,  Cornwallis,  with  Grey 
and  2500  men,  crossed  the  Schuylkill  at  the  Middle  Ferry  to 
attack  Ked  Bank.     On  the  way  to  Chester  Andre  saw  a  few 
more  of  the  horrors  of  war.     At  the  Blue  Bell  Tavern  the 
American  picket  retreated  within  doors  and  from  the  win- 
dows shot  down  a  couple  of  grenadiers.     Their  comrades 
burst  m  and,  ere  their  officers  could  prevent,  bayoneted  five 
of  our  men.     The  rest  were  taken.     Plunder  prevailed  on 
the  road,  and  the  houses  of  whigs  were  consumed.     By  11 
A.  M.  the  British  were  crossing  the  Delaware  at  Chester,  and, 
with  the  troops  just  come  from  New  York,  were  so  rapidly 
pushed  against  Red  Bank,  that  it  was  impossible  to  relieve 
It.  The  place  was  evacuated  on  the  20th.   Of  the  vessels  that 
had  been  sheltered  by  its  guns  some  were  fired  and,  at  four 
A.  M.  on  the  2l8t,  came  drifting  up  the  river  on  the  flood-tide 
to  withm  two  miles  of  the  city ;  but  carried  back  by  the  ebb, 
exploded  harmlessly  after  flaming  for  five  hours.    In  the 
thick  fog  that  prevailed,  the  gondolas  passed  by,  despite  the 
heavy  firing  of  the  English  frigate  Delaware.    It  was  thus 
known  that  Red  Bank  had  fallen ;  and  as  the  design  of  a  for- 
ward movement  hinged  on  that  event,  the  loyal  believed  that 
Cornwallis  was  now  to  pass  up  to  Burlington  and  thence  get 
into  Washington's  rear.     On  the  morning  of  November  24th 
the  fleet  began  to  come  in  and  business  to  revive.     Corn- 
wallis brought  400  cattle  from  Jersey  on  the  ensuing  day; 
and  on  the  next,  while  sixty-three  sail  were  in  sight  between 
the  town  and  Gloucester  Point,  Lord  Howe  came  on  shore 
and  the  citizens  made  up  their  minds  that  Sir  William  would 
not  pursue  Washington  that  winter.      They  learned  their 
mistake,   however,  on   the  following  day;   for  so  ill  were 


.'    51 


132 


LIFE  01'  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


Ill      A 


Howe's  secrets  kept  that  it  was  the  town-talk  that  the  mahi 
army  would  march  on  the  2nd  December.  Detachmenia 
were  sent  over  Schuylkill;  suspected  spies  were  seized  ;  and 
various  country-houses,  some  the  property  of  tories,  were 
fired  because  the  American  pickets  had  found  them  a  con- 
venient ambush  whence  to  shoot  down  the  enemy.  Most  of 
the  buildings  along  the  lines  were  by  this  time  destroyed ; 
and  it  was  even  expected  that  Germantown  would  soon  be' 
burned. 

Leaving  a  few  regiments  to  guard  the  city,  the  British 
army  marched  forth  by  the  Germantown  road  at  eight  p.  m. 
December  4th,  the  van  led  by  Cornwallis  and  the  rest  by 
Knyphausen.     Howe's  object  was  to  find  a  weak  place  in 
the  fortified  camp  at  Whitemarsh,  or  to  tempt  our  army,  now 
strongly  reinforced,  into  a  battle  for  the  recovery  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  but  the  public  impression  was  that  he  had  gone  out 
to  fight  Washington  wherever  he  found  him.   Tiie  camp  fires 
were  lighted  at  Chestnut  Hill,  which,  soon  after,  a  body  of 
Americans  under  Irvine  attempted  to  occupy.     They  were 
discomfited,  however,  by  Abercromby  with  the  light  brigade, 
and  the  general  made  prisoner.     Here  the  English  remained 
till  the  7th ;   when,  reluctant  to  essay  Washington's  right, 
they  moved  at  one  a.  m.  towards  his  left,  and  took  post'^on 
Edgehill.     A  sharp  skirmish  was  created  by  Morgan,  whose 
rifles  disputed  the  ground  as  long  as  they  could,  while  to  the 
left  Grey  encountered  and  easily  put  to  flight  a  considerable 
party,  chiefly  of  militia.     Grey's  night-march  led  him  to  their 
outposts.     He  formed  with  the  Queen's  Rangers  on  his  left, 
the  light  infantry  of  the  guards  on  his  right,  and  his  brigade 
in  the  centre.     The  Hessians  and  Anspach  Chasseurs,  with 
the  field-pieces,  were  in  the  van.     The  Americans  were  out- 
flanked on  either  side,  and  outrun  by  the  guards,  who  turned 
their  flight  across  the  fire  of  the  centre  and  left.     This  affair 
appears  to  have  occurred  in  Cheltenhajn  township,  Mont- 
gomery county. 

On  the  8th,  Howe  abandoned  all  hope  of  finding  a  vulner- 


AUDRt  WITH  GREY  AND  HOWK.  133 

able  place  in  our  lines,  and  Washington  restraining  his  per- 
M.n«    desire   to  go  forth  and  give  them  the  meetin.^  they 
sought    the  British  turned  their  faces  homewards.     L  four 
V.  M.,  Grey  and  Cornwallis,  whose  troops  were  the  last  to 
move    retn-ed      At  that  precise  time  Sin.coe  was    vatchin<. 
the  entrance  of  a  squad  of  our  dragoons  into  a  trap  he  had 
cunnmgly  baited,  when  Andrd  galloped  up  with  peremptory 
orckM-s  to  withdraw.     The  others  .vere  already  on  the  march^ 
nnd  at  nine  r.  m,  to  the  confusion  and  amazement  of  Phila- 
dolphia,  the   British  ingloriously  reentered  the   lines  *     As 
tney  came  down  the  Old  York  Road,  they  burned,  for  some 
reason,  he  Ki.mg  Sun  Buildings  ;  but,  ex.  .pt  700  cattle  and 
he  spoils  of  every  farm-house  that  lay  in  a  Hessian's  path, 
here  was  nothing  at  all  to  show  for  all  this  effort  and  panxde 
Lre   sailing  for   England,  Cornwallis  foraged   the   country 
beyond  Schuylkill  towards  Chester;  routing  Potter  as   he 
wont    and  finding  a  success  very  grievous  to  all  who  had 
m.ytliing  to  lose,  and  who  fruitlessly  claimed  redress  from 
bead-quarters.     Another  large  force  went  to  Darby  on  the 
22ud ;  and  stripping  it  of  1000  tons  of  forage  returned  on  the 
-8th  with  a  parcel  of  prisoners;  of  whom  two  officers  and 
thirty  men  had  been  cunningly  beguiled  into  ambuscade  by 
.couple  of  the  17th  dragoons.     At  seven  p.  m.  on  Christmas 
Lve,  the  city  was  enlivened  by  a  brisk  but  unsupported  can- 
nonade  with  twelve-pounders  on  the  lines  between  3rd  and 
4th  streets ;  and  this  was  its  last  taste  of  battle  in  the  year 
1/7/.     The  troops,  on  the  30th  and  31st  December,  went  into 
good  wmter-quarters.    With  the  exception  of  a  transport,  that 
was  swept  from  her  moorings  by  the  ice  to  be  stranded  and 

house;  SCL  he  LTf  so^e"  •:?:rs  "Z^^^^  .?  ■'''  T 
tions  and  the  general  plan  of  acUon,  he  ptt   u  a/;  ord    "d  IZ  7T 


■>-• 


134 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDr£. 


! 


plundered  on  the  Jersey  shore,  nothing  more  occurred  of 
Bufficient  note  to  excite  attention. 

The  severities  of  the  winter  of  1777-8  were  keenly  felt 
by  the  poor  of  Philadelphia  ;  and  even  the  better  classes,  no 
longer  able  to  procure  fresh  provisions  by  means  of  the  river, 
which  was  obstructed  by  ice  on  the  30th  of  December,  found 
additional  aggravation  in  the  spirit  that  permitted  the  Amer- 
Joans  to  hold  their  position  at  Valley  Forge,  and  thence  to 
restrain  supplies  from  the  country  by  severities  which  at  this 
day  seem  hardly  just.     "The  laws  of  war,"  said  Marshal 
Conway,  "sanction  the  infliction  of  death  on  those  who  fur- 
nish  food  to  an  enemy  only  when  such  aids  are  needful  to 
existence;   not  where  they  are  rather  matters  of  luxury." 
The  army  commissariat  was  always  capable  of  being  replen- 
ished by  the  fleet,  and  there  was  no  longer  hope  or*  attempt 
to  reduce  Howe  by  starvation ;  but  the  inhabitants  were  on 
another  footing.     They  remembered,  in  their  hunger,  how  the 
officers  who  entered  on  the  2Gth  of  September,  with  all  their 
civility  to  the  people,  professed  the  most  bitter  determination 
to  pursue  our  army  to  the  last  extremity ;  but  their  amaze- 
ment  is  also  recorded  at  the  self-confidence  of  the  English 
and  their  contempt  of  the  Americans,  whom  they  stigmatized 
as  "  a  cowardly  and  insignificant  set  of  people."     There  were 
not  wanting,  even  in  Congress,  men  who  had  heard  Cope's 
officers  at  Preston  hold  the  same  terms  of  the  Scots,  declar- 
ing they  would  never  remain  to  face  the  British  bayonet : 
yet  who  had  seen  these  very  boasters  fly  pusiUaniraously  be- 
fore the  Highlanders  without  striking  a  blow.     The  impulse 
that  at  first  led  to  the  formation  of  Loyal  Associations  and 
Provincial  Corps  had  not  been  fostered.     The  Quakers  even 
were  at  one  time  expected  by  their  antagonists  to  appear  in 
arms.     "  Thee  and  thou,  in  Philadelphia,"  wrote  an  Ameri- 
can officer  (Oct.  6th,  1777),  «  now  find  a  religion  will  not 
serve  that  doth  not  turn  weathercock-like.     They  be^in  to 
say  to  each  other  —  ' Will  thee  take  a  gun,  — hope  the^e  will 
appear  in  the  field ; ' "  —  but  when  flour  was  at  three  guineas 


FIRST  BATTLE  AT  STILLWATER. 


Idd 


occurred  of 


Ilio  l.uiidred,   and  other  things   in   proportion,  they  rather 
thought  of  obtaining  assistance  through  Dr.  Fothcrgill,  ft-otn 
tlieir  friends  in  England,  to  be  repaid  at  the  end  of  the 
troubles,  than  of  fultilling  (he  predictions  of  their  enemies. 
Nor  was  a  British  army  longer  to  be  esteemed  invincible  by 
rebels.     Burgoyne's  was  a  case  in  point.     On  the  3rd  of 
October,  imperf'^ct  rumors  of  the  first  battle  at  Stillwater 
flew  from  lip  to  lip.     Gates  was  beaten.     A  letter  was  in 
town,  with  a  postscript  in  Irish  which  told  how  a  partial  en- 
gagement on  the  18th  of  September  had  been  unfavorable 
to  Burgoyne;  but  that  returaing  on  the  10th  to  bury  his 
dead,  a  general  action  ensued  in  which  he  was  entirely  suc- 
cessful, and  was  in  full  march  on  Albany.     A  man  who  had 
been  in  Albany  on  the  19th  was  at  once  arrested;  but  he  of 
course  knew  nothing  of  Sir  John's  advance.     His  fall  was 
known  to  Washington  on  the  18th  of  October ;  but  Ilowe'a 
army  scouted  at  the  story,  while  the  citizens  believed  it.    The 
Frenchman  who  brought  in  Donop's  wounded  officers  was 
questioned  on  the  possibility  of  such  an  event.     "  I  know  the 
fact  is  so,"  he  answered,  "you  must  explain  it  as  you  can." 
Foremost  in  capacity  among  the  local  loyalists  was  Galloway. 
Sir  William  employed  him  in  municipal  affairs,  but  in  other 
respects  gave  him  the  cold  shoulder.     Galloway  was  not  in- 
sensible of  the  supineness  of  the  campaign,  nor,  as  he  be- 
lieved, of  the  cause.     His  friends  shared  in  his  discontent, 
and  he  has  recorded  its  origin.     At  Philadelphia,  he  says, 
Howe    found  4482  fencible    inhabitants,  of  whom    about 
1,000  Avere  Quakers  and  perhaps  fifty  secret  foes.     An  elev- 
enth of  the  whole  population  had  fled.    A  militia  of  3500 
men  should  have  been  forthwith  organized ;  that,  with  the 
shipping  and  1000  regulars,  could  have  held  the  lines  against 
anything  but  Washington's  main  army,  which  Howe  might 
thus  be  at  liberty  to  attack  at  Valley  Forge.     He  should 
have  invited  the  loyal  men  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware 
peninsula  to  rise,  and  supplied  them  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  a  few  regulars.    In  three  days  he  would  have  had 


'mm 
Ijfll 

T 


::*^ 


II 


''        i 


nn 


$1 
Ml 


:!    nil 


13G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


2000  tories  in  the  field,  who  would  soon  increase  to  GOOO  or 
8000.     A  covering  post  at  Wilmington  would  put  Washing- 
ton between  it  and  the  loyalists,  should  he  march  against 
them ;  while  the  army  at  Philadelphia  would  be  but  one 
day's  distance  by  water,  or  two  by  land.     He  cited  the  fact 
that  even  with  the  insufficient  means  that  were  taken  to  raise 
men,  over  1100  of  the  Philadelphians  joined  the  British;  but 
particularly  was  he  sensitive  of  the  refusal  to  permit  him  to 
raise  a  regiment.     A  warrant  for  a  single  troop  was  vouch- 
safed him ;    in  two  months  it  was  full  and  efficient.     The 
General  put  aside  his  services  in  the  recruiting  line,  and 
gave  the  warrant  to  «  an  unpopular  country  tavern-keeper, 
for  whom  he  [Howe]  thought  his  servants  in  the  kitchen  the 
most  proper  company."     Fifty  gentlemen  from  Monmouth, 
New  Jersey,  brought  their  services  to  Sir  William,  "but  the 
General  was  inaccessible ;  they  could  not,  after  several  days 
attendance,  procure  an  audience."     Such  are  the  charges 
Galloway  brought  forward ;  and  it  is  no  wonder  he  found 
ready  listeners. 

Sir  William  and  Lord  Howe  were  the  sons  of  the  second 
Viscount   Howe,  and  were  in  an  illegitimate  way  kinsmen 
to  the  King.     The  late  King  William  spoke  of  Lord  Howe 
as  « indeed  a  sort  of  connexion  of  the  family."     When  that 
coarse,  vulgar,  vicious  little  profligate,  George  Louis,  the 
first  of  the  Hanoverian  line,  came  over  to  reign  in  England, 
he  brought  among  his  German  mistresses  a  Madame  ^Kiel- 
mansegge,  whose  mother  had  filled  a  questionable  position 
near  his  own  father.     Once  in  England,  she  was  of  course 
placed  on  the  pension  and  the  peerage  rolls ;  and  in  1721, 
while  his  wife  languished  out  her  life  in  a  dungeon,  Georc^e 
created  her  Countess  of  Leinster  and  of  Darlington,  and 
Baroness   Brentford.      By  the  usual  means  of  l^er  office, 
though  her  appearance  was  far  from  pleasing,  she  accumu- 
lated wealth.     Walpole  paints  the  fright  into  which  his  child- 
hood was  thrown  by  an  interview  with  this  "fat  woman  of 
Brentford."     "  The  fierce,  black  eyes,  large  and  rollin-  be- 


CHARACTER  OF  SIR  WILLIAM  HOWE. 


137 


neath  two  lofty  arched  eyebrows ;  two  acres  of  cheeks  spread 
with  crimson,  an  ocean  of  neck,  that  overflowed  and  was  not 
distinguished  from  the  lower  parts  of  her  body,  and  no  part 
restrained  by  stays,  —  no  wonder  that  a  child  dreaded  such 
an  ogress."  The  child  that  she  bore  to  the  king  was,  in 
1719,  married  to  Lord  Howe ;  and  though  she  was  never 
publicly  acknowledged  as  George's  daughter,  her  own  child 
was  always  treated  by  Princess  Amelia,  daughter  of  George 
II.,  as  of  the  blood-royal.  There  were  whispers  also  of  a 
relationship  of  the  same  nature  as  with  the  Howes,  between 
George  III.  and  Lord  North;  their  resemblance  was  so 
great,  according  to  Wraxall,  as  to  be  pointed  out  by  George's 

father  to  Lord  Guilford The  ill  feeling  between  North  and 

Howe,  so  natural  to  the  royal  line,  would  not  belie  this  tale. 

John  Adams  asserts  that  the  Howes  were  poor,  brave 
men,  who  had  wasted  their  estates  in  election  contests  and 
had  now  nothing  to  sell  but  their  votes  and  their  swords. 
Sir  William  represented  Nottingham  in  the  Commons ;  and 
the  expenses  of  carrying  that  town  in  1768  were  said  by 
Lord  Chesterfield  to  have  been  full  £30,000  to  the  winner, 
and  not  less  to  the  losing  candidate.  Letters  from  London 
in  1775  aver  that  both  Howe  and  Clinton  went  with  reluc- 
tance to  America ;  but  they  were  told  they  must  do  this  or 
starve.  In  Parliament  he  was  in  the  chair  of  Committee  of 
the  Whole  House,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1775,  when  the 
Commons  considered  American  affairs.  From  nine  p.  m.  to 
one  A.  M.  it  was  one  scene  of  confusion  and  altercation,  dur- 
ing which  a  member  called  on  him  to  publish  in  the  Colonies, 
that  whenever  evidence  in  their  favor  was  produced,  the 
prime  minister  «  was  either  fast  asleep,  and  did  not  hear  it ; 
or,  if  awake,  was  talking  so  loud  as  even  to  prevent  others 
from  hearing  it."  As  next  in  command  to  Gage,  he  led  the 
assault  at  Bunker  Hill,  where  his  "  disposition  was  exceeding 
soldier-like ;  in  my  opinion,  it  was  perfect,"  said  Burgoyne. 
Others  however  discovered  in  this  action  his  habitual  neg- 
lect to  press  fortune  to  the  utmost  whp.n  Clinton  was  vainl" 


'pa 


138 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  AUDRt. 


urging  the  pursuit  of  the  Americans  crowded  on  a  narrow 
causeway.    It  would  seem  that  ministers  were  then  perplexed 
to  find  a  suitable  chief  commander.     With  little  show  of 
probabd.ty,  Prince  Ferdinand  was  spoken  of  on  either  side  ; 
but  th,s  nommation  would  never  have  suited  Germain  fwho 
wjis  soon  to  represent  America  in  the  cabinet),  for  it  would 
have  brought  him  into  direct  contact  with  the  man  by  whoso 
means  he  had  been  himself  cashiered  for  misconduct  at  Min- 
den.     ihe  veteran  Amherst  was  also  mentioned ;  and  a  con- 
temporary historian  alleges  the  post  was  even  tendered  to  the 
aged  Oglethorpe,  who,  in  1745,  had  been  refused  any  com- 
mand  whatsoever.     The  ancient  Jacobite  however  sturdily 
refused  the  appointment,  unless  he  were  permitted  to  comply 
wuh  American  demands;  and  this  the  ministry  would  not 
thmk  of.     Accordmgly,  Dartmouth  informed  Howe  on  the 
2nd  of  Augusi,  1775,  of  his  prospective  position,  and  bade 
hira  transmit  a  fuU  statement  of  everything  that  he  would 
need  to  insure  success.    Yet  the  nature  of  his  politics  at  this 
time  may,  perhaps,  be  fairly  deduced  from  an  address  of  his 
constituency  to  the  throne  that  was  in  his  absence  presented 
by  his  brother,  the  Viscount.     The  constitutionality  of  the 
steps  against  America  was  questioned,  their  expediency  de- 
nied, and  especially  was  regretted  the  presence,  in  such  a  ser- 
vice of  their  representative -"a  descendant  of  that  noble 
famib^  which  in  every  walk  of  glory  has  equalled  the  Roman 
name.      Howe  himself  averred  that  he  accepted  the  com- 
mand by  desire  of  his  friends  in  opposition;  and  it  is  not 
to  be  denied  that,  if  his  conduct  in  this  country  was  detri- 
mental  to  the  triumph  of  the  British  arms,  it  was  at  least 
often  stamped  with  sterling  traits.     At  Bunker  Hill,  where 
he  was  struck  by  a  spent  ball,  he  would  have  preserved  the 
wounded  Warren.     He  captured  Fort  Washington  in  a  man- 
ner to  indicate  that  he  prized  the  lives  of  his  men.     He 
might  have  made  a  more  dashing  attack,  but  not  a  surer  or 
sater.     lo  his  prisoners  he  was  not  so  considerate ;  and  the 
treatment  that  he  suffered  them  to  receive  would  alone  poI- 


CHARACTER  OF  SIR  WILLIAM  HOWE. 


13d 


lute  his  fame.     Ethan  Allen,  not  backward  himself  to  inflict 
scourging  or  exile  where  a  disputed  land-title  was  concerned, 
lifts  up  his  voice  against  Sir  William's  commissary  of  pris- 
oners, a  native  of  Allen's  own  region ;  and  declared  that 
"legions  of  infernal  devils,  with  all  their  tremendous  horrors, 
were  impatiently  ready  to  receive  Howe  and  him,  with  all 
their  detestable  accomplices,  into  the  most  exquisite  agonies 
of  the  hottest  regions  of  hell-fire."     As  for  his  provosb-mar- 
shal,  Major  Cunningham,  "  a  burly,  ill-naturea  Irishman,  of 
sixty  years,"  humanity  shrinks  from  the  recital  of  his  cruel- 
ties, and  almost  regrets  that  it  cannot  find  reason  to  believe 
that  the  justice  of  the  nation  he  so  long  disgraced  did  not 
provide  him  a  halter.     Few  worse  men  have  dangled  from  a 
gibbet.     There  is  satisfaction  in  the  reflection  that,  when  the 
British  evacuated  New  York  in  1783,  the  insolence  of  ofiice 
led  him  to  quarrel  with  the  man  who  had  a  little  prematurely 
hoisted  ihe  American  flag  ;  and  that  he  was  soundly  belabored 
with  a  broomstick  by  an  indignant  virago.     His  quarters  in 
rhiladelphia  were  plundered  by  robbers  of  his  own  ranks ; 
foremost  among  whom  was  a  hag  named  Marshall,  well- 
known  on  the  battle-field  as  the  "  bag  and  hatchet  woman,"  — - 
a  title  that  sufficiently  indicates  her  horrid  trade.     Cunning- 
ham's prison  was  in  Walnut  Street  below  6th,  and  the  neigh- 
boring Potter's  Field  (now  Washington  Square)  received  his 
victims.     It  was  at  the  time  told  of  this  human  beast,  that 
when  chanty  supplied  a  vessel  of  broth  to  his  starving  cap- 
tives, he  would  divert  himself  by  kicking  it  over,  and  seeing 
the  prisoners  fall  sprawling  on  the  earth,  striving  to  lap  up 
the  food  with  their  tongues.     As  for  the  hulks  in  which  our 
people  were  shut  up  at  New  York,  we  need  not  go  behind 
the  confession  of  Sir  William  Napier  —  "The  annals  of  civ- 
ilized nations  furnish  nothing  more  inhuman  towards  the 
captives  of  war  than  the  prison-ships  of  England."    The  fact 
seems  to  be  that  Howe  prized  his  own  comfort  too  highly  to 
disturb  himself  much  about  his  duties.    Charles  Lee,  who  long 
had  him  in  the  highest  love  and  reverence,  describes  him  as 


:.M«*i| 


Jllill 

lllillM 


'    il 


lilil 


l|i        ill 


140 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


being  «  naturally  good-humored,  complaisant,  but  illiterate  and 
indolent  to  the  last  degree,  unless  as  an  executive  soldier,  in 
which  capacity  he  is  all  fire  and  activity,  brave  and  cool  as 
Julius  Cresar."    Yet  his  enemies  also  asserted  that  since  1776 
he  had  never  met  Washington  but  in  force  really  superior;  and 
nineteen  occasions  were  cited  in  which  he  might  have  over- 
turned the  Americans.    At  Long  Islai  I  his  men  were  hardly 
restrmned  for  three  days  from  attacking  our  lines.     He  lin- 
gered in  camp,  when  he  should  have  passed  to  New  Ilochelle 
and  hemmed  up  his  foe  in  New  York.     At  Brandywine,  by 
the  most  judicious  manoeuvres,  he  enclosed  Washington  be- 
tween his  two  columns  and  impassable  waters.    He  indolently 
suffered  the  defeated  party  to  remain  undisturbed  all  ni-ht 
withm  eight  miles  of  the  field,  and,  by  five  days'  inactivfty, 
lost  all  the  fruits  of  victory.     At  Germantown,  it  was  Mus- 
grave  who  saved  the  day  ;  and  even  then  there  was  no  gen- 
eral pursuit.     Nothing  was  extenuated,  and  not  a  little  set 
down  m  malice.     The  people  were  discontented  with  his  pri- 
vate life.    He  appropriated  to  himself  Mrs.  Pemberton's  coach 
and  horses ;  he  was  fond  of  his  bottle  ;  he  kept  a  mistress  ;  - 
even  the  more  discreet  among  his  own  officers  were  abashed 
at  his  luxurious  habits,  and  his  inaccessibility  to  affairs  of 
importance.     Across  the  ocean.  Burns  caught  up  the  story 
of  his  slothful  ease. 

•'  Poor  Tammy  Gago  within  a  cage 

Was  kept  at  Boston  ha',  man, 
Till  Willie  Howe  took  o'er  the  knowc 

For  Philadelphia,  man. 
Wi'  sword  and  gun  he  thought  a  sin 

Guid  Christian  blood  to  draw,  man  : 
But  at  New-York,  wi'  knife  and  fork, 

Sir-loin  he  hackcvi  sma',  man." 

The  Admiral  and  himself,  bitterly  remarks  a  contemporary, 
had  alike  the  sullen  family  gloom ;  but  while  Lord  Howe 
was  devoted  to  business,  his  brother  hated  and  avoided  it 
«  Their  uniform  character  through  life  has  been,  and  is  to  this 
day,  haughty,  morose,  hard-hearted,  and  inflexible."    This 


CHARACTER  OF  SIR  WILLIAM  HOWE.  141 

aversion  to  public  affairs,  and  the  consequent  pecunJary  dis- 
orders  that  ensued  in  their  management,  may  perhaps  give 
another  color  to  the  allegation  that  Sir  William  was  privately 
mterested  m  various  transactions  by  which  riches  were  got 
at  the  expense  of  government.     He  was  said  to  be  a  secret 
partner  with  Coffin,  a  large  military  shopkeeper  who  attended 
the  army.    Certainly  the  expenditures  of  his  campaigns  were 
beyond  all  reasonable  bounds.     In  every  profitable  branch 
of  the  service,  wrote  Wedderburne  at  the  time,  the  pecula- 
tion  was  as  enormous  as  indecent.     Both  the  troops  and  the 
treasury  were  robbed  :  "the  hospitals  are  pest-houses  and  the 
provisions  served  out  are  poison.    Those  that  are  to  be  bought 
are  sold  at  the  highest  prices  of  a  monopoly."     No  wonder 
the  most  loyal  Englishman  winced  at  this  wanton  and  fruit- 
less  waste  of  taxation,  and  apostrophized   his   country,  in- 
sulted by  Americans, — 

"  Wlio  force  thee  from  thy  native  right 
Because  thy  heroes  will  not  fight; 
—  Perfidious  men,  who  millions  gain 
By  each  protracted,  slow  campaign !  " 

The  F-  nch  officers  in  Washington's  camp  were  amazed  at 
Howe's  inactivity.     «  After  Brandywine,"  said  Du  Portail, 
"  he  might  have  exterminated  our  army  " ;  and  his  sluggish- 
ness while  they  were  at  Valley  Forge  was  an  ineffable  blun- 
der.    "  Had  he  moved  against  them  in  force,  they  could  not 
have  held  their  encampment,"  says  Marshall.     An  opinion 
was  (no  doubt  falsely)  at  this  time  attributed  to  La  Fayette, 
that  as  any  general  but  Howe  would  have  beaten  Washing- 
ton, so  any  other  than  Washington  would  have  beaten  How^; 
and  ministers  trembled  lest  Gates  should  march  from  Sara- 
toga and,  joining  the  main  army,  subdue  Philadelphia  and 
Its  garrison.     But  Sir  William  was  already  anxious  to  retire. 
There  was  ill  blood  between  Germain  and  himself;  and  not 
even  the  king  could  persuade  the  Colonial  Secretary  to  treat 
his  General  with  proper  confidence.    In  July,  1778,  hu  re- 
turned to  London,  «  richer  in  money  than  laurels,"  says  Wal- 


ill 


I!  Illlll^ 


w 
II I 


142 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


pole.  "  The  only  bays  he  possessed,"  said  another,  "  were 
those  that  drew  his  coach."  His  reception  by  the  cabinet 
was  not  encouraging ;  and  he  endeavored  to  cast  the  blame 
of  his  want  of  success  at  its  door.  In  this  he  but  partially 
succeeded.  A  parliamentary  investigation  took  such  a  turn 
that  it  was  dropped  on  motion  of  his  friends.  He  was  not 
reemployed  in  the  war ;  and  the  nation,  and  even  his  own 
constituents  of  Nottingham,  seem  to  have  been  content  to 
have  done  with  him. 

"  General  HoAve  is  a  gallant  commander — 
There  are  others  as  gallant  as  he  " 

was  the  general  conclusion.  In  1799  he  succeeded  to  his 
brother's  Irish  titles  ;  and  died  childless  in  1814.  In  person 
he  was  tall  and  portly,  full  six  feet  in  height,  and,  to  Phil- 
adelphia eyes,  of  stately  and  dignified  manners.  His  enforced 
withdrawal  from  the  field  of  professional  service  was  in  some 
measure  compensated  by  the  social  and  political  influence 
which  secured  him  in  a  lucrative  and  honorable  office  under 
the  crown. 


Illii 


CHAPTER  IX. 

'^wS^'^i™^  '"^  Philadelphia. -Features  of  the  Occupation. -  Sir 
Wilham  Er8kme.-Abercrombie._Simcoe.-Lord  Cathcart.  _ Tarle- 
ton  -Andre's  Social  Relations  in  the  City.  _  Verses  composed  by  S. 
-Amateur  Theatncals.- Misconduct  of  the  Roval  Arms  -  The  Z 
duanza.-Andrd's  Account  of  it.-Howe  removed  from  the  Com- 


The  year  1778  found  the  British  at  Phikdelphia  in  snu- 
quarters,  unembarrassed  by  the  cares  of  the  field  and,  excep't 
(or  occasional  detachments,  free  from  other  military  duties 
than  the  necessary  details  of  garrison  life.    The  triflin-  affairs 
that  occurred  tfcring  the  remainder  of  the  season,"  served 
rather  as  a  zest  to  the  pleasures  which  engaged  them,  than 
as  a  serious  occupation.    Our  army  lay  the  while  —  from  the 
19th  December  to  the  18th  June  -at  Valley  Forge,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Schuylkill.    The  camp  was  placed  on  the 
rugged  hiU-side  of  a  deep  valley,  through  which  flows  a  creek. 
On  the  east  and  south  it  was  fortified  with  a  ditch  six  feet 
wide  and  three  feet  deep,  and  a  mound  four  feet  hi-h  that 
might  easily  be  overthrown  (said  Anbury,  an  English°officer 
who  visited  the  spot,)  by  six-pounders.     On  the  left  was  the 
bchuylkill,  over  which  a  bridge  was  built  by  the  Americans 
to  keep  up  their  communications.    On  every  arch  was  carved 
a  general's  name  ;  that  in  the  centre  bore  Washington's,  and 
the  date  of  its  erection.     The  rear  was  protected  by  a  preci- 
pice and  thick  woods.     From  December  to  May,  continues 
our  authority,  Howe  could  have  readily  carried  these  lines  • 
at  any  time  in  the  spring  he  could  have  besieged  them. 
The  sufferings  of  the  men  were  intolerable  ;  they  deserted 
hy  tens  and  by  fifties ;  and  they  often  appeared  in  Philadel- 
phia almost  naked,  without  shoes,  a  tattered  blanket  sir: 


m 


144 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


i 


ji'il'i'''! 


I    M    |l. 


I  |t 


to  their  waists  —  but  with  their  arms.  Those  they  were  al- 
ways allowed  by  the  English  to  sell.  It  is  incredible  that, 
however  bad  his  intelligence  from  the  country-people  might  be, 
Howe  could  not  have  found  guides  among  these  to  lead  him 
to  our  camp.  It  is  known  that  there  were  not  provisions 
in  store  to  enable  "Washington  to  hold  out.  He  must  have 
abandoned  his  lines  or  starved;  and  he  had  not  sufficient 
means  to  remove  his  equipage.  Sickness  prevailed  ;  eleven 
liospitals  were  kej)!  up  at  one  time.  None  but  the  Virginia 
troops  were  provided  with  anything  like  enough  clothing ; 
and,  to  crown  all,  Congress  was  busier  with  schemes  to  sup- 
plant and  remove  Washington",  than  to  listen  to  the  griev- 
ances of  his  followers  and  supply  their  just  demands.*  It 
was  for  us  a  fortunate  though  a  most  unwarlike  turn  that 
occupied  such  soldiers  as  Abercrombie,  Tarleton,  Musgrave, 
Simcoe,  and  De  Lancy  with  the  ordering  of  a  ball-room  or 
the  silken  trappings  of  the  stage,  rather  thanithe  harsh  reali- 
ties of  the  field.  In  other  scenes  they  proved  themselves 
gallant  and  dangerous  antagonists. 

The  general  demeanor  of  the  officers  billeted  at  Phila- 
delphia in  private  houses  is  described  as  very  agreeable. 
Candles,  fire,  and  a  chamber  were  provided  by  the  house- 
holder. The  guest  would  return  of  an  evening,  take  his 
candle,  and  after  a  little  fireside-chat  retire  to  his  apartment. 
One  unfortunate  wight  indeed,  who  had  been  wounded  in  the 

*  General  Knox  and  Captain  Sargent,  both  of  the  artillery,  were  dele- 
/jated  by  their  comrades  to  represent  their  necessities.  The  committee  hav- 
ing heard  them,  one  of  its  members  took  occasion  to  remark  that  much  had 
been  very -well  said  about  the  famine  and  the  nakedness  of  the  soldiers; 
yet  he  had  not  for  a  long  time  seen  a  fatter  man  than  one  of  the  gentlemen 
who  had  spoken,  nor  one  better  dressed  than  the  other.  Knox,  who  was 
of  corpulent  habit,  was  mute  —  probably  with  indignation ;  but  his  subor- 
dinate rejoined  that  this  circumstance  was  due  to  the  respect  his  com- 
panions bore  not  only  to  themselves,  but  to  Congress.  The  General's  rank 
prescribed  his  appointment;  but,  beyond  that,  the  corps  could  not  hesitate 
to  select  as  their  representatives  the  only  man  among  them  with  an  ounce 
of  superfluous  flesh  on  his  body,  and  the  only  other  who  possessed  a  com- 
plete suit  of  clothes. 


I  I  I,  I  I' 


THE  BRITISH  AKMY  IN  riHLADELPHIA.  145 

neck  at  Germantown  and  who  was  saddled  on  ono  of  the 
best  famines  in  the  town,  used  to  keep  the  neighborhood  of 
2nd  Street  and  Taylor's  Alley  aware  of  his  existence  by  the 
frantic  volleys  of  oaths  that  he  would  pour  out  when,  as  he 
sat  by  the  open  window,  every  turn  of  his  head  to  watch 
what  went  on  below  would  throw  him  into  new  pains ;  but 
such  cases  were  exceptional.     Several  of  them  too  had  mis- 
tresses; and  this,  though  offensive  to  morality,  was  neither 
disguised  nor  kept  in  the  dark.     Lieutenant-Colonel  Birch 
of  the  dragoons  ~  a  man  of  high' fashion  at  the  time  — was 
of  these ;  and  Major  Crewe,  whose  jealousy  of  Tarleton  was 
one  of  the  esclandres  of  the  day.    « I  saw,"  said  a  distinguished 
citizen,  «a  grand  review  of  18,000  British  troops,  on  the 
commons  that  extended  from  Bush  Hill  to  Southwaik.    They 
had  just  received  their  new  clothing,  and  made  a  fine  ap- 
pearance.    A  very  lovely  English  girl,  the  mistress  of  Major 
Williams  of  the  artillery,  drove  slowly  down  the  line  in  her 
open  carriage  with  handsome  English  horses  and  servants. 
Her  dress  was  cut  and  trimmed  after  the  fashion  of  the  regi- 
ment's ;  the  facings  were  the  same,  and  the  plumes.     The 
woman  was  singularly  beautiful." 

No  sooner  were  they  settled  in  their  winter-quarters,  than 
the  English  set  on  foot  scenes  of  gayety  that  were  long  re- 
membered, and  often  with  regret,  by  the  younger  part  of 
the  local  gentry.  Weekly  balls,  each  conducted  by  three 
officers  of  repute,  were  given  in  the  public  rooms  at  Smith's 
City  Tavern,  in  2nd  Street.  Convivial  associations  were 
formed,  to  dine  at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  or  the  Indian  Queen. 
Mains  of  cocks  were  fought  at  a  pit  that  was  opened  in 
Moore's  Alley.  As  spring  came  on,  cricket-matches  were 
discussed.  The  advertisements  in  the  newspapers  give 
many  curious  hints  of  the  levity  of  manners  and  morals  that 
was  fast  springing  up  in  the  lately  staid  and  demure  city. 
Thefts  were  not  infrequent ;  wet-nurses  were  in  constant  de- 
mand ;  comely  white  bondwomen  were  escaping  from  servi- 
tude.   To-day  Lord  Rawdon's  spaniel  is  lost  near  Schuylkill, 


'm-  ':'.         * 


■:i    :   ,.  .1 1 


146 


LIl'E    OF    MAJOR    ANDRfi. 


i      ! 


iVfi 


ilHI 


and  is  to  be  brought  back  to  Mrs.  Sword's  in  Lodge  Alley  ; 
to-morrow  an   exhibition  of  glowing  pictures,  or  a  sale  of 
books  rather  more  free  than  had  usually  found  market  there ; 
or  perchance  a  lecture  on  electricity  at  the  college.    The 
presence  of  so  many  young  officers,  not  a  few  of  them  dis- 
tinguished by  rank  or  by  fortune,  lent  new  life  to  every  oc- 
casion of  amusement.     The  Marquis  of  Lindsay,  who  in  this 
year  became  Duke  of  Ancaster,  was  the  nephew  of  Andre's 
old  colonel,  Lord  Robert  Bertie ;  and  Stopford,  his  major  in 
Canad'i,  was  aLo  here,  a  ball-manager.     Lord  AVilliam  Mur- 
ray,  Lieutenant-Colonel    (afterwards   Earl)    Harcourt,   Sir 
Henry  Calder,  Sir  Thomas  Wilson,  and  many  other  men  of 
rank  were  with  the  troops.     Here  too  was  Sir  William  Er- 
skine,  who  a  year  or  so  later  resigned   his  quartermaster- 
generalcy,  not  for  ill  health  it  is  said,  but  because  the  General 
gave  no  heed  to  his  recommendation  for  an  ensigncy.     Er- 
skine  remained  long  in  the  service,  and  many  stories  are  told 
of  him.     He  protected  the  English  rear  at  the  retreat  from 
Dunkirk,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  confusion,  with  charming 
frankness  and  in  the  broadest  Scotch,  shouted  to  his  comrade 
in  this  war,  Dundas,  as  he  passed,  —  "  Davie,  ye  donnerf  idiot, 
Where's  a'  your  peevioys  (pivots)  the  day?  "—Sir  David 
being  one  of  those  tedious  tacticians  wh<^  could  not  take  one 
step  forward  without  going  a  dozen  about.    Erskine  was  not 
an  able  officer,  as  Wellington  afterwards  found  out  -in  the 
Peninsula.     There,  too,  was  the  Hessian  ca^dain  Frederick 
Munchausen,  aide  to  Howe,  whose  name  was  so  ominously 
significant  of  incorrect   despatches;   and  Abercrombie,  ap- 
parently the  same  who  later  served  and  died  so  gallantly  in 
Egypt,  and  whose  mortification  when  the  British  arms  were 
finally  grounded  at  Yorktown  =—  hiding  h'v  face  and  gnash- 
ing his  sword-hilt  as  he  turned  awav  —  is  so  picturesquely 
related  by  one  of  Rochambeau's  staff.     Of  tho.  c,  however, 
who  seem  to  have  been  of  Andre's  mor'  immediate  circle 
were  Simcoe,  the  famous  partisan  officer ;  Captain  ]  uttwell ; 
Sir  John   Wrottesley ;    Captain  De  Lancy,  afterwards  his 


LORD  CATHOAKT. 


147 


successor  in  the  adjutant-generalcy ;  Major  Stanley  (father  of 
the  late  Earl  of  Derby)  ;  and  Major  Lord  Calhcart.  This 
hist  was  of  an  ancient  Scotch  family  long  distinguished  in 
arms  who  rose  to  command  in  chief  before  Copenhagen  in 
1807;  he  was  created  an  English  Viscount  and  P^arl,  and 
died  so  lately  as  1843.* 
Another  young  ollicer  at  Philadelphia,  whose  part  in  the 

*  Cathcart  married  in  America  (April  10,  1779)  the  daughter  of  Andrew 
Eliot,  once  collector  at  Philadelphia  and  un(!le  of  the  first  Lord  Minto, 
better  known  aa  author  of  tlie  beautiful  pa  toral  of  Amyntas  — "My  sheep' 
I  neglected,  I  Ijroke  my  sheep-hook,"  —  than  by  his  title.  Mr.  A.  Kliot  was 
one  of  the  commissioners  to  procure  Andre's  release.  A  MS.  k-tter  of  the 
time  thus  pleasantly  describes  the  nuptials:  "  We  live,  it  is  true,  for  a  little 
while,  when  Ueauty  strikes  the  strings  at  General  Pattison's  concerts:  but 
this  is  only  on  the  first  day  of  a  week  that  sickens  before  it  is  concluded. 
.  .  .  An't  you  tired  of  moralizing?    Til  tell  you  news:  Lord  Cathcart  — 

"Poh,  I  heard  it  before!  " 

"  However,  you  just  heard  that  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliot,  but  the 
story  here  is  that  he  took  himself  in  men  ly  to  pass  the  time  away  in  winter- 
(luurtcrs;  and  because  Miss  E.  was  a  lively,  pretty  girl,  he  made  violent 
lovo  to  her,  wrote  letters,  &c.  &c.  Miss  e'.  listened  and  believed  — 'For 
who  could  think  such  tender  looks  were  meant  but  to  deceive? '  Whether 
hi  Lordship  Jlew  oft"  afterwards,  I  know  not:  but  Mr.  E.  laid  the  letters 
and  the  whole  affair  before  Sir  Henry.  Sir  H.  advised  Cathcart  to  marry : 
Cathcart  wished  to  be  excused  till  the  end  of  the  war:  and  the  Gen- 
eral informed  him  that  after  having  gone  so  fur,  he  must  marry  Miss 
]•;.,  or  quit  his  family.  A  fine  girl,  a  good  fortune,  to  a  Scotch  Lord  with  a 
moderate  one,  were  not  to  be  despised.  You  know  the  Peers  of  Scotland, 
having  no  legislative  privileges,  are  not  of  that  consequence  that  the  Lords 
of  England  or  even  those  of  Ireland  are.  And  so  his  Lordship  married 
Miss  Eliot,  and  they  will  soon  sail  for  England,  it  is  said."— Lady  Cathcart 
appears  to  have  had  a  place  at  court,  and  Peter  Pindar  celebrates  her  at 
Weyf'iouth,  in  connection  with  the  king's  insensate  numners:  — 

"  ('(csar  spies  ijwly  Cathcart  with  a  book ; 
He  Hies  to  know  what  'tis  —  he  longs  to  look. 
'  What's  in  your  hand,  my  lady?  let  me  P  uow.'— 
'  A  book,  an't  pleaee  your  mtyesty.'  — 'Olio ! 
Book's  a  good  thing  — good  tiling— I  like  a  book 
Very  good  thing,  my  lady  —  let  me  look  — 
War  of  America  !  my  lady,  hee  ? 
Bad  thing,  my  lady !  fling,  fling  that  away.'  " 

A  sister  of  Cathcart's  married  Sir  Thomas  (jraham,  afterwards  Lord  Lyne- 
doch,  a  distinguished  cavalry  oiricer;  another  was  Duchess  of  Athol,  and 
a  third  Countess  of  Mansfield. 


,J|I'! 


U8 


LIFE  OF  MAJOIl  ANDUlS. 


!ii  'i 


I  III ' 
w  I 


!   i 
i 

;iippi'ii 


M 


war  woA  not  utinoted,  was  Bnuustrc  Tarleton.     Born  at  Liv- 
erpool, the  fcoii  of  at\  eminent  merchant,  he  forsook,  like  An- 
dre, the  compting-room  for  the  army,  and  when  the  conte.st 
begun  obtained  a  cornetcy  of  dragoons.     Sir   W.   Erskine 
was    his   flrst    patron;    afterward.^    Clinton    and  Cornwallis 
prized  and  promoted  him.      Well  but  heavily  made,  with 
large  muscular  legs,  a  good  soldier's  face,  dark  complexion, 
small,  piercing,  black  eyes,  about  five  feet  eight  inches  in 
height,  and  a  capital  horseman,  he  was  the  very  model  of  a 
partisan  leader.     At  this  time  he  was  but  about  twenty-one, 
and  though  Howe  did  not  employ  cavalry  much,  was  always 
vigorous  and  active;   "when  not  riding  races  with  Major 
Gwynne  on  the  commons,  making  love  to  the  ladies."     In 
England  he  had  been  guilty  of  some  excesses ;  and  a  whim- 
sical speech  from  the  box  of  a  theatre  about  one  of  his  own 
kindred  was  quoted  as  an  evidence  of  his  "  flow  of  spirits 
and  unrestrained  tongue."     At  the  Mischianza  his  equipage 
bespoke   the  man.     His  device   was  a  light  dragoon;    his 
motto,  Swift,  vigilant,  and  boId,  —  nn(\  his  squire's  name  was 
Heart.     On  his  return  he  was  elected  to  Parliament  by  his 
native  place,  and  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  amor\<r 
the  whig  circles;  now  jesting  at  Fox's  swollen  legs,  novv 
taking  the  odds  from   Sheridan  that  Pitt  will  not  be  First 
Lord  of  the  Treasury  on  the  18th  of  May,  1795.     Despite 
his  distinguished  services  he  was  coldly  received  by  George 
IIL,  who  less  regarded  how  his  soldiers  fought  than  how  they 
voted.*     An  ill-advised  boast,  in  the  presence  of  a  lady  of 
influence,  that  he  had  not  only  slain  more  men  in  America, 
but  had  more  nearly  approached  the  feats  of  Proculus  in 
Gaul  than  any  other  soldier  in  the  royal  army,  so  incensed 
his  hearer  that  she  determined  he  should  lose  his  seat  at  the 
next  election,  —  and  she  carried  her  point.     Tarleton's  repu- 

*  Tarleton,  it  is  said,  has  been  honored  with  a  private  conference,  in 
which  his  Majesty  took  no  other  notice  of  his  scr^-ices  than  just  to  say- 
Well,  Colonel  Tarleton,  you  have  been  in  a  great  many  actions,  had  a 
great  many  escapes."  — i»/i\    London,  Feb.  6, 17S2.  ' 


TARLETON. 


149 


tation  for  cool  hut  reckless  daring  nttendod  him  in  En^rland. 
Wh«n  a  mob  threatened  Devonshire  House,  he  quietly  nirew 
Hi.  a  window  and  said,  —  «  My  good  fellows,  if  you  grow  riot- 
ouH,  I  shall  really  be  obliged  to  talk  to  you."     Th.7  i.nmedi- 
ntcly  dispersed.    In  1798  he  married  a  daughter  of  the  Duke 
of  Ancastcr,  an.l  in  1817  was  a  major-general,  but  not  on  ac- 
tive service.     He  always  maintained,  till  the  event  falsified 
his  judgment,  that  Wellington  would  fail  in  Portugal      On 
the  coronation  of  George  IV.  he  was  made  a  Baronet  and 
K.  B.     His  fortunes  do  not  seem  to  have  been  continually 
prosperous  ;  -  on  the  5th  of  September,  1798,  he  writes  from 
Sussex:    «I  have  thought  proper  to  proceed  to  Lord  R. 
Spencer's  friendly  mansion,  for  two  purposes :  to  read,  and  to 
subsist  for  nothing— being  very,  very  poor."     The  portrait 
by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  represents  him  in  a  martial  attitude 
on  the  battle-field.     His  own  figure  is  finely  drawn ;  but  the 
horses  are  outrageously  in  defiance  of  nature,  and  fully  war- 
ranted  the  contemporaneous  criticism  that  was  bestowed  upon 
the  production :  — 

"  Lo !  Tarleton  dragging  on  his  boot  so  tight ! 
His  horses  feel  a  godlilte  rage, 
And  long  with  Yanlcees  to  engage  — 
I  think  I  hear  them  snorting  for  thefigiit. 

"  Behold  with  fire  each  eyeball  glowing ! 

I  wish,  indeed,  their  manes  so  flowing 
Were  more  lilte  hair  — the  brutes  had  been  as  good 

If,  flaming  with  such  classic  force, 

They  had  resembled  less  that  horse 
Call'd  Trojan  —  and  by  Greeks  compos'd  of  wood." 

Tarleton's  ravages  in  America  have  made  his  name  a  house- 
hold  word  in  many  regions;  but  an  exception  may  be  cited 
to  his  general  reputation  in  JeflTerson's  testimony  to  the  care 
lie  gave  to  the  house  of  Monticello  when  it  was  in  his  power. 
It  was  natural  that  the  presence  of  such  a  gay  and  brilliant 
throng  should  create  an  impression  on  Philadelphia  society 
that  long  remained  uneffiiced,  and  which  in  after-years  in- 
iuccd  many,  particularly  of  the  softer  sex.  to  look  back  with 


:»-• 


1 

If  ^ ' ' 

■ 

^^E' '' 

■ 

I  IHilPii 


150 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


real  regret  to  the  pleasant  days,  the  festive  nights  that  pre- 
vailed during  the  British  occupation.  One  of  these  in  re- 
cording her  own  sentiments  probably  uttered  the  thoughts  of 
many  more : 

"  Oh  halcyon  days,  forever  dear, 
When  all  was  frolic,  all  was  gay : 
When  Winter  did  like  Spring  appear, 
And  January  fair  as  May ! 
When  laughing  Sol  went  gaily  down. 
Still  brighter  in  the  morn  to  rise : 
And  gently  glancing  on  the  town 
O'er  British  ensigns  moved  his  eyeff. 
When  all  confessed  the  gallant  youth 
Had  learned  in  camps  the  art  to  please ; 
Respectful,  witty,  friends  to  truth. 
Uniting  valour,  grace,  and  ease!  " 

But  of  all  the  band,  no  one  seems  to  have  created  such  a 
pleasing  impression  or  to  have  been  so  long  admiringly  re- 
membered as  Andre.  His  name  in  our  own  days  lingered 
on  the  lips  of  every  aged  woman  whose  youth  had  seen  her 
a  belle  in  the  royal  lines ;  and  though  the  reminiscences  of  a 
bygone  generation  are  not  implicitly  to  be  relied  on,  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  in  this  instance  they  are  in  the  main 
correct.  He  is  described  as  of  five  feet  nine  inches  in  height, 
and  of  a  singularly  handsome  person,  —  well-made,  slender, 
graceful,  and  very  active ;  a  dark  complexion,  with  a  serious 
and  somewhat  tender  expression ;  his  manners  easy  and  in- 
sinuating. He  was  an  assured  favorite  with  some  of  the 
best  people  in  the  city,  and  despite  their  indignation  at  Grey's 
behavior  at  the  Paoli.  This  Andre  warmly  upheld,  as  in 
entire  conformity  with  the  usages  of  war ;  and  they  who  dis- 
agreed with  these  assertions  still  cherished  the  aide-de-camp, 
who  vindicated  the  deeds  he  had  shared  in,  as  "  a  most  charm- 
ing man."  If  the  serious  business  of  life  was  a  part  of  his 
lot,  there  was  yet  ample  scope  for  the  exercise  of  those 
elegant  arts  in  which  he  excelled.  His  infirmities,  if  any 
there  were,  sprang,  like  Charles  Townshend's,  from  a  noble 
cause  —  that  lust  of  fame  which  is  "  the  instinct  of  all  great 


ANDRfi'S  SOCIAL  RELATIONS  IN  PHILADELPHIA     151 

souls  " ;  and  his  comelj  person,  his  winning  speech,  his  grace- 
ful manners,  procured  him  universal  acceptance. 

"  Whate'cr  he  did  't  was  done  with  sc  much  ease 
In  him  alone  't  was  natm-al  to  please :  * 

His  motions  all  accompanied  with  grace ; 
And  paradise  was  opened  in  his  face." 

Warm  friendships  sprung  up  between  many  of  the  officers 
and  the  towns-people ;  and  among  those  in  which  Andre 
Mas  concerned,  was  that  with  the  family  of  Edward  Shippen 
which  was  destined  to  bear  such  an  important  part  in  his 
career.  In  rank,  character,  and  fortune  Mr.  Shippen  was 
among  the  first  men  of  his  time.  That  he  was,  to  say  the 
least,  lukewarm  in  the  war  has  often  been  charged.  Cer- 
tamly  he  was  constantly  fined  for  neglect  of  militia  duty,  in 
seasons  when  every  zealous  whig  might  have  been  looked  for 
m  arms;  but  after  all  was  over,  he  was  worthily  dignified  by 
tlje  highest  professional  offices  in  the  state,  and  at  the  hands 
of  men  who  had  been  the  most  conspicuous  supporters  of 
the  Revolution.*  With  Miss  Redman,  Andr(5  was  also  in- 
tmiate ;  the  buttons  p%fully  severed  from  their  coato  by 
St^mley  and  himself,  and  presented  to  her  as  partin-keep- 
sakes  when  they  left  Philadelphia,  are  yet  preserved,  Is  also 
are  a  number  of  silhouettes  of  himself  and  various  of  his 
friends,  cut  by  him  for  this  lady.  For  her,  too,  he  wrote, 
on  the  2nd  January,  1778,  these  pretty  vers  de  societe,  to  a 
German  a.r  that  he  had  perhaps  composed  or  picked  up  in 
his  wanderings :  — 

Return,  enraptur'd  hours, 
When  Delia's  heart  ,/as  mine; 
When  she  with  wreaths  of  flowers 
My  temples  would  entwine. 

When  jealousy  nor  care 
Corroded  in  my  breast  — 

fc  re    rns  of  Capt  Pasehal's  con.pany,  2nd  battalion.   See  Accts.  Lieuts. 
aud  Sub-Lieuts.  Philadelphia  City:  1777-1783. 


iff^^ 


&i^^t 


i52  LIFE  OF  RUJOR  ANDRlS. 

But  visions  light  as  air 
Presided  o'er  my  rest. 

Now,  nightly  round  my  bed 
No  airy  visions  play ; 
No  flow'rets  crown  my  head 
Each  vernal  holiday. 

For  far  from  these  sad  plains 
My  lovely  Delia  flies ; 
And  rack'd  with  jealous  pains 
Her  wretched  lover  dies. 

Some  may  find  allusion  in  these  lines  to  the  writer's  affair 
with  Miss  Sneyd.  There  is  no  evidence  that  his  heart  was 
bound  by  new  ties  while  in  this  country ;  and  his  freedom 
from  the  grosser  passions  of  his  fellows  was  especially  ob- 
served. It  was  likewise  noticed,  as  an  instance  of  his  cour- 
tesy, that  neither  while  a  prisoner  at  Lancaster,  or  in  power 
as  Grey's  aide,  did  he  ever  join  in  the  contemptuous  language 
so  often  applied  to  the  Americans.  He  did  not  speak  even 
of  those  in  arms  as  rebels  ;  colonists  was  the  gentler  phrase 
by  which  he  referred  to  them. 

During  all  the  war,  the  favorite  amusement  of  the  British 
army  was  amateur  theatricals.  "Wherever  it  found  itself  in 
quarters,  at  oace  a  dramatic  corps  sprung  up.  In  1775-6, 
when  beleaguered  in  Boston,  Burgoyne  and  his  fellows  fitted 
up  a  playhouse  (in  an  abandoned  meeting-house,  it  is  said) ; 
the  roof  of  which,  according  to  an  English  writer,  was  de- 
stroyed by  American  shells,  and  the  wardrobe  and  curtain 
much  injured.  Here  the  officers  gave  Tamerlane,  The  Busy- 
body, and  the  like.  It  opened  with  Zara,  to  which  Sir  John 
wrote  an  apposite  prologue ;  and  the  bills  were  sent  to  Wash- 
ington and  to  Hancock.  It  might  well  have  closed  with  an- 
other of  Burgoyne's  bantlings  —  The  Blockade  of  Boston ;  the 
performance  of  which  was  disagreeably  interrupted  by  prac- 
tical skirmishings  on  the  outposts.  In  1779-80  the  captives 
of  Saratoga,  detained  at  Charlottes  ;ille,  erected  a  theatre  for 
themselves.     At  Philadelphia,  the  royal  officers  were  more 


AMATEUR  THEATRICALS.  133 

forlun»le  in  finding  one  slanding  ,0  tlicir  liand.  On  the  .soutl, 
.s.cle  of  SoutI,  Street  (to  be  out  of  the  bounds  of  tl.e  eitvTe 
.cgmafons  of  wliich  were  opposed  to  the  stage),  near  ItCwas 
a  large,  ugly,  dl-eonditioned  wooden  building,  the  third  nub 

Jt  was  built  in  1760,  and  was  long  disused.  The  scenes  of 
>™r  outshone  the  mimie  pageantries  of  the  sock  and  bu  kin  • 
a..<l  one  at  least  of  the  old  company,  Francis  Ment"es  a 
nanoor,  was  now  an  officer  of  some  repute  in  our  army."  Th! 
house  was  not  a  good  one.  The  great  square  wooden  c2 
umiis,  that  supported  tlie  upper  tier  and  the  roof,  interrupted 
he  view  from  u,e  boxes;  the  stage  was  lighted  by  pC 
lamps  without  glasses,  everything  betokened  ill- J,e  a' d 
dilapidation.     But  any  theatre  was  better  than  none;  and 

habby  bam.  The  stage-box  on  the  east  side  was  probably 
that  occupied  by  Howe;  it  was  afterwards  appropriated  0 
Wasungton,  who  himself  was  partial  to  the  dila,'anrdu  ! 

uons  of  The  Poor  Soldier.     Above  the  entrance  was  the 
Kab  laisian  mMo-Tolm  mundus  agit  histrionem ,  which 

FridC"  '7,f  "=!!•" '^«  ""'  ^"^'^^y^'  ^"^-sda'ys,  an 
Iridajs.      The  mihtary  amateurs  were  slow  to  verify  this 
rendering  ,„  the  frequency  of  their  performances.     Havii  ' 
resolved  on  their  plan,  Andre  and  Oliver  De  Lancy-": 
i..sty,  fat,  ruddy-looking  young  fellow  between  20  and  30 
years  ofage>  went  to  work  to  prepare  the  needful  scenery 
ana  decorations.     Andre's  readiness  with  the  brush  has  1 
ay  been  declared.     On  this  occasion  he  produced  effects 
lat  m.glit  have  stood  beside  the  scenic  labors  of  Hogarth 
De  Loutherbourg,  or  Stansiicld  himself.     His  fotia^;  was 
uncommonly  spirited  and  gi«c,  :ul.     The  two  amateurs  made 
.  veral  very  useful  and  attractive  additions  to  the  old  stock 
-enery;  one  of  which,  from  Andre's  brush,  demands,  says 
Durang,  a  particular  record.  " 

"  It  was  a  landscape  presenting  a  distant  champagne  eouii-  » 


lii 


:'!i! 

m 


154 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDRli. 


try,  and  a  winding  rivulet  extending  from  the  front  of  the 
picture  to  the  extreme  distance.  In  the  foreground  and  cen- 
tre a  gentle  cascade  (the  water  exquisitely  executed)  was 
overshadowed  by  a  group  of  majestic  forest-trees.  The  per- 
spective was  excellently  preserved  ;  the  foliage,  verdure,  and 
general  colouring  was  artistically  toned  and  glazed.  ...  It 
was  a  drop-scene,  and  hung  about  the  middle  of  the  third 
entrance,  as  called  in  stage-directions.  The  name  of  Andre 
was  inscribed  in  large  black  letters  on  the  back  of  it,  thus 
placed  no  doubt  by  his  own  hand  on  its  completion  ;  — some- 
times a  custom  with  scenic  artists."  * 

On  the  24th  December,  1777,  matters  were  sufficiently 
advanced  for  the  undertakers  to  determine  on  the  piece  they 
should  first  app'^ir  in,  and  to  advertise  for  an  accountant  or 
sub-treasurer,  a  swift  and  clear  writer  for  the  distribution  of 
parts,  and  for  practised  scene-shiflers  and  carpenters.  The 
play  first  resolved  on  was  perhaps  The  Wonder,  or  A 
Woman  keeps  a  Secret.  It  was  advertised  for  as  "  wanted 
immediately  for  the  use  of  the  theatre,  to  borrow  or  buy,"  on 
the  3rd  January  ;  but  if  there  was  any  one  point  on  which 
the  Presbyterian  and  Quaker  agreed,  it  was  in  aversion  to 
theatres,  and  the  piece  was  not  soon  forthcoming.  Accord- 
ingly, on  the  14th  January,  for  the  benefit  of  the  widows  and 
orphans  of  the  army,  were  given  the  comedies  of  No  One's 

*  Few  persons  of  taste  who  have  eve  seen  this  drop  will  hesitate  to  con- 
firm its  praises.  The  "  Old  South,"  as  the  theatre  came  to  be  known,  sank 
A-om  the  hour  when  playhouses  might  laAvfully  exist  within  the  city  limits. 
It  became  at  last  the  resort  of  the  most  depraved  of  both  sejJes,  and  the 
witness  of  their  infamies.  In  1821,  it  was  turned  down;  and  despite  every 
effort  to  save  the  scenery,  particularly  the  drop  painted  by  Andrc^,  its  con- 
tents were  consumed.  Some  part  of  the  walls  yet  stand.  For  years  pre- 
viously throngs  of  the  vulgar  had  crowded  the  house  every  Fourth  of  July, 
to  witness  a  piece  well  suited  to  their  tastes  and  understandings,  and  found- 
ed on  his  fate. 

There  is  still  preserved  .at  Philadelphia  a  figure  of  a  British  grenadier, 
cut  out  of  half-inch  board,  six  feet  high,  with  rounded  edges,  and  painted 
to  the  life,  which  tradition  says  was  made  by  Andrei  If  so,  it  was  proba- 
bly a  stage  decoration.  It  got  into  American  hands,  and  was  used  in  prac- 
tical joke  to  heartily  frighten  some  of  our  ofl[icers. 


ARUTEUR  THEATRICALS. 


155 


Enemy  but  his  Own,   and   The  Deuce   is  in  Him.      The 
eliaracters  were  represented  by   officers  of  the  army  and 
navy ;  the  aoors  opened  at  6  r.  m.,  and  the  play  began  at 
7  ;  the  tickets  were  a  dollar  for  box  or  pit,  and  half  a  dollar 
for  the  gallery.     No  money  was  to  be  taken  at  the  door,  nor 
were  more  tickets  sold  than  the  house  would  hold.     I  have 
had  the  fortune  to  stumble  upon  a  collection  of  specimens  of 
all  these  theatrical  bills,  tickets,  notices,  &c.,  with  an  indorse- 
ment  of  the  number  struck  off  of  each,  that  had  been  pre- 
served  by  James  Humphreys,  the  printer,  together  with  all 
the  handbills  of  proclamations  and  the  like  issued  durin-  the 
Occupation.     From  these  may  be  deduced  some  idea  of  what 
the  house   held.     Of  notices  of  performance,  1000  copies 
would  be  printed ;   and   660  box-tickets.     And  so  popular 
did  the  entertainment  soon   become,  that  the  doors  were 
opened  ere  sunset,  and   they  who  wished  places  kept  for 
them  had  to  send  their  servants  to  the  house  at  4  p.  m. 

The  first  performance  was  eminently  successful.     Despite 
the  legislative  prohibition  of  public  theatricals,  amateur  rep- 
resentations  were  in  great  vogue  with  the  more  refined  and 
cultivated  classes  in  various  parts  of  America.    In  staid  Con- 
necticut, the  late  venerable  Bishop  Griswold  at  the  early  a-e 
of  seven  shone  as  a  page  in  Fair  Rosamond  in  1773,  and  In 
178i,  was  great  as  Zanga  in  The  Revenge.  In  Pennsy'-anla 
particularly  among  the  churchmen  and  moderate  dissenters' 
a  like  taste  prevailed ;  and  though  the  playhouse  could  only 
be  reached  on  foot,  by  miry  and  unlighted  paths  (for  there 
were  no  hackney-coaches  in  those  days,  and  very  few  private 
coaches),  the  ladies  did  not  shrink  to  trip  ihither  and  back 
home  after  nightfall.     The  house  was  opened  for  the  season 
and  the  play  introduced  by  the  following  prologue,  which 
there  is  much  reason  for  attributing  to  Andr^  both  in  com 
p.TSition  iiad  delivery:  — 

PROLOGUE. 
Once  more,  ambitious  of  theatric  ghry, 
ilowc'd  strollina  company  appears  before  ye. 


C=3i 


ill'? 


P!ii| 


156  LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDRH:. 

O'er  hills  and  dales  and  bogs,  thro'  wind  and  weather 
And  many  hair-breadth  'scape,  we  've  scrambled  hither. 
For  we,  true  vagrants  of  the  Thespian  race, 
Whilst  summer  lasts  ne'er  know  a  settled  place. 
Anxious  to  prove  the  merit  of  our  band, 
*     A  chosen  squadron  wanders  thro'  the  land. 
How  beats  each  Yaukie  bosom  at  our  drum  — 
— '  Hark,  Jonathan !  zaunds,  here 's  the  strollers  come ! ' 
Spruced  up  with  top-knots  and  their  Sunday  dress, 
With  eager  looks  the  maidens  round  us  press. 
—  'Jemima,  see  —  an't  this  a  charming  sight  — 
Look,  Tabitha  —  Oh  Lord!  I  wish  'twas  night  I ' 
Wing'd  with  variety  our  momenta  fly, 
Each  minute  tinctur'd  with  a  different  dye. 
Balls  we  have  plenty,  and  al  Fresco  too, 
Such  as  Soho  or  King-street  never  knew. 
Did  you  but  see  sometimes  how  we  're  arrayed. 
You  'd  fancy  we  design' d  a  masquerade. 
'T  would  tire  your  patience  was  I  to  relate  here 
Our  routs,  drums,  hun-icanes,  and  Fetes  ChampGtres. 
Let  Ranelagh  still  boast  her  ample  dome ; 
While  heaven  's  our  canopy,  the  earth 's  our  room. 
Still  let  Vauxhall  her  marshall'd  lamps  display, 
And  gild  her  shades  with  artificial  day : 
In  lofty  terms  old  vaunting  Sadler's  Wells 
Of  her  tight-rope  and  ladder-dancing  tells, 
But  Cunningham  in  both  by  far  excels. 

Now  winter  * Hark !  and  I  must  not  say  No  — 

'  But  soft,  a  word  or  two  before  I  go.' 
Benevolence  first  urged  us  to  engage. 
And  boldly  venture  on  a  public  stage : 
To  guard  the  helpless  orphan's  tender  years, 
To  wipe  away  the  afflicted  parent's  tears, 
To  sooth  the  sorrows  of  the  widow'd  breast, 
To  lull  the  friendless  bosom's  cares  to  rest ; 
This  our  design  —  and  sure  in  such  a  cause 
E'en  Error's  self  might  challenge  some  applause. 
With  candor  then  our  imperfections  scan, 
And  where  the  Actor  fails,  absolve  the  Man. 

•  Stage-bell  rings. 

The  success  of  the  first  night  was  really  beyond  expecta- 
tion, and  a  notice  was  issued  begging  gentlemen  not  to  bribe 
the  door-keepers :  "  The  Foreign  Gentleman  who  slipped  a 
Guinea  and  a  half  into  the  hands  of  the  boxkeeper,  and 


AMATEUR  THEATRICALS.  I57 

(breed  Ins  way  into  the  house,  is  requested  to  send  to  the 
omce  of  the  theatre  in  Front-street,  that  it  .nay  be  returned." 
huch  advertisements  do  not  occur  nowadays.     The  perform- 
ances during  the  rest  of  the  season  were  as  follows :    On  the 
26th  January,  The  Minor,  and  The  Deuce  is  in  Him  ;  on 
the  9th  February,  The  xMinor,  and  Duke  and  No  Duke;  on 
the  16th,  Constant  Couple,  and  Duke  and  No  Duke.     The 
allness  of  a  chief  actor  and  other  causes  prevented  any  more 
p  ays  tdl  March  2nd,  when  The  Constant  Couple  and  The 
Mock  Doctor  were  given ;  on  the  9th,  The  Inconstant  and 
rhe  Mock  Doctor,  with  a  display  of  fireworks;  on  the  16th, 
Ihe  Inconstant,  and  Lethe  ;  on  the  25th,  The  First  Part  of 
Kmg  Henry  IV.,  and  The  xMock  Doctor ;  on  the  30th,  The 
livst  Part,  &c.,  and  Lethe.     Then  one  of  the  actresses  fell 
Sick;  Passion  AVeek  came  on;  and  nothing  was  played  be- 
fore The  Wonder  and  The  Mock  Doctor,  on  the  24th  April. 
Ihe  Lmr  and  A  Trip  to  Scotland  were  played  on  the  1st 
May ;  a  copy  of  Douglas  was  advertised  for  on  the  2nd  ;  on 
the  6th  were  represented  The  Liar,  and  Duke  and  No  Duke  • 
and  on  the  19th,  Dr.  Home's  play  of  Douglas,  and  the  Citizen.' 
Ihis  was  the  last  performance.     When  the  curtain  fell  the 
olficers  resorted  to  a  sort  of  club-room  that  was  established  in 
the  large  apartments  of  the  City  Tavern,  where  their  weekly 
balls  were  held ;  and  here  Chades  Lee  was  introduced  in 
March,  17/8,  after  witnessing  the  evening's  play.     The  bills 
give  no  distribution  of  parts,  and  we  cannot  tell  what  charac- 
ters came  to  Andre's  share ;  but  we  may  well  believe  that  in 
Douglas  he  appeared  as  the  young  hero  whose  feigned  con- 
ditions  so  much  resembled  his  own. 

"Obscure  and  friendless,  be  the  army  sought, 
Resolved  to  hunt  for  fame,  and  with  his  sword 
To  gain  distinction  which  his  birth  denied. 
In  this  attempt,  unknown  he  might  have  perish'd 
And  gain'd  with  all  his  valor  but  oblivion. 
Now  graced  by  thee,  his  virtue  serves  no  more, 
Beneath  despair.    The  soldier  now  of  hope. 
He  stands  conspicuous;  fame  and  great  renown 
Arc  brought  within  the  compass  of  his  sword." 


-••Ii 


lis 


stm 


158 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


And  in  another  passage  of  the  same  play,  we  find  language 
that  indeed  expresses  what  seems  to  have  been  the  key-note 
of  Andre's  character.  "  Living  or  dead,  let  me  but  be  re- 
nown'd,"  appears  truly  to  have  been  the  unaltered  wish  of  his 
soul. 

Without  going  into  too  many  particulars,  there  is  abundant 
testimony  that  gambling,  races,  plays,  and  gallantries  occu- 
pied more  of  the  attention  of  the  royal  officers,  during  this 
winter,  than  was  at  all  consistent  with  the  good  of  the  service. 
The  military  feats  about  Philadelphia,  in  the  earliec  part 
of  1778,  were  neither  numerous  or  important.     Howe  aimed 
at  little  more  than  keeping  a  passage  clear  for  the  country- 
people,  within  certain  bounds,  to  come  in  with  marketing. 
The  incident  known  as  the  Battle  of  the  Kegs  was  celebrated 
by  Ilopkinson  in  a  very  amusing  song  that,  wedded  to  the  air 
of  Maggy  Lauder,  was  long  the  favorite  of  the  American 
military  vocalists ;  but  it  hardly  seems  to  have  been  noticed 
at  Philadelphia,  until  the  whig  version  came  in.     The  local 
newspapers  say  that,  in  January,  1778,  a  barrel  floating  down 
the   Delaware   being  taken  up  by  some  boya  explodeu  in 
their  hands,  and  killed  or  maimed  one  of  them.     A  few  days 
after,  some  of  the  transports  fired  a  few  guns  at  several  other 
kegs  that  appeared  on  the  tide ;  but  no  particular  notice  of 
the  occurrence  was  taken.     These  torpedoes  were  sent  down 
in  the  hope  that  they  would  damage  the   shipping.      Tiie 
Queen's  Rangers  and  other  troops  were  constantly  employed 
in  patrols  and  forages,  but,  beyond  bringing  in  Americans 
whom  they  caught  stopping  and  stripping  the  market-people, 
there  was  little  to  be  done.     Howe,  too,  set  on  foot  several 
loyal  corps  of  the  vicinity  that  proved  very  useful.     Hoven- 
den,  with  his  Philadelphia  Light  Dragoons  and  some  of 
Thomas's  Bucks  County  Volunteers,  made  a  foray  on  the 
14th  of  February,  and  brought  in  a  number  of  prisoners. 
On  the  next  day  400  Americans  came  within  GOO  yards  of 
one  of  the  pickets,  "  and  after  making  a  terrible  howling,"  and 
exchanging  fires,  retired  leaving  three  dead.     On  the  18th, 


MISCONDUCT  OF  THE  ROYAL  ARMS.  159 

Hovenden  and  Thomas  passed  up  to  Jenk's  fulling-mill  in 
Bucks,  and  thence  to  Newtown,  surprising  the  Americans 
posted  there   to   intercept  market-people,  and   bringing  in 
Inrty-four  prisoners  as  well  as  two  coach-loads  of  things 
from  Galloway  s  country-seat.     This  was  doubtless  a  prime 
object  of  the  move;   and  it  is  thus  we  can  account  for  the 
loss  of  invaluable  papers  (particularly  Franklin's)  respecting, 
our  history,  that   were  left  in  Galloway's  hands.     On  th^ 
23rd,  Hovenden  went  thirty  miles  up  the  Skippack  Road,  and 
returned  on  the  24th,  with  130  fine  cattle   and  some  pris- 
oners.      He  reported  the  Americans  as  excessively  severe 
on  market-people,  and  that   Lacey  had  burned   the   mills 
about  the  city  to  the  infinite  misery  of   the  town-folk;   to 
whose  poor,  salted  beef  was  now  publicly  distributed.     Some 
of  the  Americans  had  great  reputation  as  market-stoppers  • 
these,  when  caught,  were  decorated  with  their  spoils  -- e-^s' 
women's  shoes,  and  the  like -and  so  paraded  throu..hThe 
streets  to  gaol ;    or  were  publicly  whipped  in  the  m^arket- 
I.  ace   and  drummed  out  of  town.*     Simcoe  very  much  ap- 
plauds  the  skill  with  which  a  loyalist,  pretending  to  be  an 
American  commissary,  turned  a  fat  drove  of  Washington's 
cattle  into  British  beef.      Such  little  stratagems,  however 
were  usually  crowned  by  our  people  with  a  halter.     Jn  these' 
patrollings  the  two  antagonists  occasionally  came  in  contact. 

*  "  On  Saturday  last,  a  rebel  light  horseman,  loaded  with  several  wallets 
a  ross  h'«  shoulders,  and  a  large  basketon  his  ann,  full  of  market  tuck  of 
vhuh  he  had  robbed  the  country  people  coming  to  market,  was  brought  in 
aving  been  taken  a  few  miles  from  the  lines  at  the  ve^^  t  me  he  was  pi  Jn-' 
;  "T    ,f'»'^^^'-«"7  «f  J^i^  aj^pearance  afforded  no  littl;  amusem  nt  to  tl^ 
populace/ -Pe.„.  Ledger,  Apr.  22, 1778.    Galloway  says  that  it  was  usud 
give  200  lashes  to  the  market-people  caught  coming  to  town ;  oTto  "r] 
hem  m  to  Howe,  w,th  G.  11.  branded  on  their  flesh  with  a  hot  ir;nTand  t  o 
ooal  journals  c    March,  1778,  tell  of  several  persons,  taken  on  tl^  r  way  o 
buy  provisions  bemg  court-martialled  at  Wilmingto^  and  sentenc  d  sTm" 
0  be  hung  others  to  be  flogged.    They  got  off  with  being  tied  to"h'e  Z 
l.nv.s  and  thus  receiving  250  to  500  lashes  from  "  wired  cats  that  cu   lart 
P.CCOS  from  them  at  every  stroke."     Some  enlisted  wath  the  Antncaisl 
-OKI  pumshment,  and  then  deserted.    So,  at  least,  says  the  L  dgerrNo 


160 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDKlS. 


On  the  20th  of  March  a  large  party  of  American  horse  were 
encountered  boyornl  Schuylkill  by  the  mounted  yiigers,  and 
defeated  w.th  loss.     On  another  occasion,  during  the  ^ccu-' 
patmn,  Generals  Cadwalader  and  Reed  with  one   follower 
ridmg  and  recomioitring  through  the  country,  had  stopped  at 
the  house  of  a  Quaker  to  whom  they  were  known.     Passin-r 
on,  and  being  caught  in  a  rain,  they  had  tu,.,ed  the  blue 
cartouche  cloaks  they  wore  so  that  the  red  lining  was  ex- 
posed to  the  shower,  and  were  hastily  gallopin.,  back  to  camp 
when  as  they  repassed  the  Quaker's  house,  he  came  rushing 
out  to  them.     «  Gentlemen,  gentlemen  ! "  he  cried,  mistaking 
theu.  scarlet  for  British  uniform,  "  if  you  will  only  turn  ba  k 
you  W.1  eertamly  catch  General  Reed  and  General  Cadu^l- 
ader,  who  have  just  gone  down  that  road  ! "     His  confusion 
at  discovering  h,s  blunder  maybe  guessed;  and  it  afterwards 
came  near  to  hang  him  when  Reed  was  in  power.     For  pi- 
otmg  Abercrombie  on  the  1st  of  May,  when  Lacey's  post  at 
the  Crooked  Billet  was  broken  up,  John  Roberts  actully 

The  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1778  found  the  British 
councds  at  LcMKlon  m  great  perplexity.     Howe's  recall  was 
n  settled  tlnng;  but  it  was  as  yet  unknown  whether  Z 
Americans  would  hsten  to  the  new  commissioners  sent 
tliem    or  ally  themselves  with  France.     Lord  Amherst  . 
great  aut  onty  with  the  king,  advised  that  in  the  latter     on! 
mgency  the  roval  armies  should  be  withdrawn  from  the  con 
menttothe  W  .St  Indies;  and  in  any  event,  that  a  retr    t 
from  Philadelphia  to  New  York  should  at  once  be  made 
Meanwhile,  Sir  William  was  looking  about  for  an  open^^t 
cover  Ins  retirement   vith  an  active  lustre;  stimulated  pe! 
haps  thereto  by  the  triendly  satire  of  his  subordt   es  Z 
of  whom  (afterwards  General  Meadows,  then  the     e^ten 
an  -colone    of  the  55th,  Howe's  own  regiment)  blun  y  r  . 

a  kef  ll  T  TTr'"?  ''''''''''  '^^'^^^^"  ^«  pleasured  and 
asked  him  if  he  did  not  think  it  was  now  time  to  get  out  of 


OrENING  OF  Tire  CAMPAION  OF  1778.  161 

Uk  M  „„d  ,0  g,t  „„  hi3  |,„,^_     o„  ,^^  j^^  ^^  ^ 
a™,  >vas  ordered  ,o  bo  ready,  wi.l,  three  days'  provil,.  and 
"  "  "«'""'■«»  """"'"S.  «'■■  »n  enlerprbe  on  tl,o  5.h.    But  no 
hrge  movement  was  made.     A  detaehment  of  1400,  indeed 
l-y  a  „,g.,t.mareh   rcliced  Billi„gsp„r,,  where  „„;  people 
were  bes.egmg  some  refngec,  ;  and,  on  the  24th  and  .he  2Cth 
pames  (one  led  by  De  Laney)  went  forth  sueeessfully  again  t 
l.od.es  of  Ameneans.     Tr„„sp.orts  were  now  fust  comi^.  i„ 

"  k  r^b  7,T  fZ  ''"*•  ""•'  '™''''  ""O  "0-  f-" 
I  '  r.  K  '  "'  ^'"^'  *^"""'»  ™»  "'  Billingsport  j  and 
....  the  8th  he  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  On  the  fofh,  an  ex- 
|>ed,.,on  sent  on  the  7th  to  Bordentown  to  b.an  the  Amerl 
can  fngates  and  stores  there  returned,  having  sueeecded  per- 
fee  ly.  On  the  n.ght  of  April  30th,  Abet^rxTmbie  led  a  party 
of  l.ght  troops,  with  whieh  were  some  of  James's  and  JW 
don  s  loyahsts,  against  Lacey  near  the  Crooked  Billet.  By  the 
Bruish  account,  Laeey  re.,isted  at  first,  bnt  was  forced  ('  fly 
and  was  pursued  four  miles.     His  loss  was  80  to  100  lulled 

Hi^huts,  and  what  eq«,p.nge  could  not  be  brought  off  were 

No  longer  relying  on  militia,  in  whatever  strength,  to  fulfil 

l»ensrequ.red  of  a  stout  outlying  force  between  'himse  f 

and  the  enemy,  Washington  on  the  18th  of  May  ordered 

La  Fayette,  with  five  guns  and  2500  of  the  flo«er  of  the 

army  to  pass  over  the  Valley  Forge  bridge,  and  take  post 

Barren  H,I1,  on  this  sule  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  about  midway 
between  the  two  armies.  But  the  Quaker  with  whom  he 
quartered  h.mself  is  said  to  have  promptly  communicated  the 
circumstance  to  Howe.  The  news  reached  Philadelphia  that 
La  Jayetle's  "tattered  retinue  had  abandoned  their  mud- 
Wes  aiid  were  advancing  towards  Germantown.  An  at- 
Uck  was  mstantly  concerted.  There  were  plenty  of  men  in 
H  wes  ranks  who  knew  eve^inch  of  the  ground;  some  of 
the  loyalist  troopers  were  residents  of  the  place  itself,  and 


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LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


J       I 


were  the  best  of  guides.  So  inevitable  appeared  success  that 
Sir  William,  ere  setting  forth,  invited  ladies  to  meet  La  Fay- 
ette at  supper  on  his  return ;  while  Loi*d  Howe,  who  went 
along  as  a  volunteer,  prepared  a  frigate  for  the  immediate 
transmission  to  England  of  the  expected  captive.  In  a  war 
like  this,  where  public  opinion  was  so  powerful,  the  effect  of 
such  an  event  would  have  been  prodigious.  It  is  pleasing  to 
reflect,  not  only  that  the  design  failed,  but  that  its  failure  was 
due  to  an  officer  who  held  American  soldiership  in  the  ex- 
treme of  contempt,  and  whose  whole  American  history, 
whether  before  or  during  the  war,  is  a  tissue  of  arrogance 
and  shortcomings. 

"  I  was  present  at  this  move,"  says  Sir  Henry  Clinton ;  "  it 
was  made  before  I  took  the  command.  As  Sir  W.  Howe  was 
there,  I  gave  no  opinion  abo^H  the  plan  or  execution."*  To 
an  unprofessional  man,  there  seems  to  be  room  for  but  one 
opinion  about  either.  The  plan  was  admirable ;  the  execu- 
tion imperfect.  With  5,000  men.  Grant  marched  on  the 
evening  of  the  19th  by  the  Delaware  Road  to  a  sufficient 
distance ;  when,  turning  to  the  left  by  Whitemarsh,  he  was 
at  sunrise  a  mile  in  La  Fayette's  rear,  and  between  him  and 
the  Valley  Forge  bridge.  At  a  later  hour.  Grey  (and  of 
course  Andre)  brought  up  2,000  men  by  a  more  direct  road 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  established  himself 
at  a  ford  two  or  three  miles  in  front  of  La  Fayette's  right 
flank.  A  force  was  also  stationed  at  Chestnut  Hill.  Thus 
the  Americans  were  so  environed,  that  in  no  direction  could 
they  march  without  encountering  an  enemy,  unless  they  could 
repass  the  river ;  and  there  was  but  one  ford  (Matson's)  now 
available  for  this  purpose,  which  was  even"  nearer  to  Grant's 
position  than  their  own. 

Howe  had,  by  a  wonder,  ordered  matters  so  cleverly  that 
not  the  least  whisper  of  his  intentions  reached  our  people 
beforehand.  It  was  on  a  play-night  that  the  expedition  set 
forth,  and  most  of  the  officers  were  witnessing  Douglas  when 

*  Clinton  MS. 


I! 


HOWE'S  MOVEMENT  AGAINST  LA  FAYETTE         163 

feey,  hastened  back  with  tiding.  „f  ,he  eneo,;  "pp^  i,*! 

llr  1,  u    "''^'''"S'»"  "taost  looked  fbrwaid  to  retrealin,. 
w,«,  an  he  could  carr^,  towanjs  the  Susqnehannal,  °' 

M  Fayette  proved  himself  adeqnate  to  the  oecasion     In 
»  moment,  as  it  „ere,  his  dangers  were  revealed  IT, 
possible  means  of  extrication  resorted  to      nt      v         °"° 

-ae  in  .he  cb„rch.,ard  as  thTg^t  tei^T^rLr 
fllery,  by  a  well-directed  fire,  eneonraged  the  idea  '.h,  T 
putposed  to  engage.     His  real  aim  was':'  cour  e"'a"d' 

aisiance  ot  Grant,  who  was  nearer  to  it  than  himself  B„ 
fe.gaed  movements  as  though  for  an  attack  "I  ocS^ 
«onaI  d,splay  of  the  heads  of  columns,  he  for  a  time  pZ 


I  I 
ii 


•SBKftt&.sBasiBRw 


MD 


164 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl!:. 


ill 


Buaded  the  Englishman  that  an  action  was  imminent.  Mean- 
time his  troops,  as  fast  as  thev  could  come  up,  were  hurrying 
across  the;  ford,  till  at  last  the  artillery  only  and  a  body  of 
Oneida  savages  remained  on  this  side  the  stream.  These 
were  also  now  brought  over,  and  on  the  high  grounds  be- 
yond our  men  were  secure.  Grant  at  last  came  up,  and 
ordered  the  advance  to  move  on ;  but  too  late.  They  saw 
but  a  party  of  our  troops  dotting  the  surface  of  the  water, 
like  the  floats  of  a  seine.  The  prey  had  escaped.  Grant 
was  hopelesp.ly  in  their  rear ;  and  when  Grey's  column  closed 
in,  there  was  nothing  between  the  British  lines.  The  only 
skirmishing  even  that  seems  to  have  occurred  was  between 
a  body  of  light-horse  and  the  Oneidas.  Neither  had  ever 
encountered  a  like  foe ;  and  when  the  cavalry  unexpectedly 
rode  among  the  savages,  the  whooping  and  scampering  of  the 
one,  and  the  flashing  swords  and  curveting  steeds  of  the  other 
party,  excited  such  a  common  terror  that  both  fled  with  the 
utmost  precipitation.  Irritated  and  empty-handed  Howe 
marched  back  to  town,  with  no  one  but  his  own  officers  to 
blame  for  his  ill-success.*  On  the  24th  of  May,  he  surren- 
dered the  command  to  Clinton,  and  arrived  in  England  on 
the  2nd  of  July.  One  of  the  last  acts  of  his  authority  was  to 
ordain  a  lottery,  on  the  15th  of  May,  directed  by  substantial 
citizens,  to  raise  £1,000  for  the  poor  of  the  city. 

Whatever  may  have  been  his  shortcomings  to  ministers, 
it  is  certain  that  Howe  was  beloved  by  his  troops.  He  was 
ever  careful  of  them  in  battle,  and  in  quarters  his  own  indul- 
gences were  shai'ed  by  them.  Dissipation,  gambling,  relaxa- 
tion of  discipline,  may  have  indeed  tainted  the  army ;  but 
they  knew  their  leader  to  be  personally  brave,  and  capable 
in  the  field  ;  and  by  his  very  errors  their  own  comfort  was 

*  "  It  will  no  doubt  have  struck  whoever  reads  this,  that  La  Faj'ette  es- 
caped exactly  by  the  same  means  the  garrison  of  Fort  Lee  had  done :  with 
this  difference,  that  Lord  Cornwallis  had  not  been  informed  of  the  situation 
of  Newbridge,  and  Sir  William  Erskine  repeatedly  entreated  General  Grant 
to  march  directly  to  Matson's  Ford.  Had  he  done  so,  not  a  man  of  La 
Fayette's  corps  would  have  escaped." —  Clinton  MS. 


^^^ 


lent.  Mean- 
ere  hurrying 
d  a  body  of 
am.  These 
grounds  be- 
ame  up,  and 
.  They  saw 
)f  the  water, 
ped.  Grant 
Dlumn  closed 
.  The  only 
was  between 
ler  had  ever 
jnexpectedly 
pering  of  the 
5  of  the  other 
fled  with  the 
nded  Howe 
n  officers  to 
y,  he  surren- 
England  on 
lority  was  to 
y  substantial 

to  ministers, 
)3.  He  was 
s  own  indul- 
ging, relaxa- 
i  army;  but 
and  capable 
comfort  was 

La  Faj'ettc  es- 
lad  done :  "with 
of  the  situation 
1  General  Grant 
t  a  man  of  La 


THE  MISCHIANZA.  iq^ 

increased.  It  was  thereforo  resolved,  by  a  number  of  those 
most  conspicuous  in  the  pursuit  of  pleasure  and  attachment 
to  the  General,  to  commemorate  their  esteem  for  him  by  an 
entertamment  not  less  novel  than  splendid.     This  was  the 

nature  of  which  is  expressed  by  its  name,  while  its  concep- 
nonis  evidently  taken  from  L.rd  Derby's  fete  champetre  at 
The  Oaks,  June  9th,  1774,  on  occasion  of  Lord  Stanley's 
marriage  to  the  Duke  of  Hamilton's  daughter.  Bur^oyne 
was  the  conductor  of  this  elegant  affair,  with  its  malques, 
fireworks  dancing,  &c.;  and  for  it  he  wrote  his  play,-\he 

11  e  Mi.chianza  was  suggested  by  a  like  pageant  on  the 
rhames  June  23rd,  1775.  Each  of  these  festivities  ~  the 
first  of  the  kind  in  England-  had  been  much  talked  of  and 
admired  at  the  time. 

Both  in  the  plan  and  execution  of  this  affair,  Andre's  near 
amance  with  head-quarters  led  him  to  be  much  concerned. 
His  brush  as  well  as  his  taste  was  engaged  ia  the  decora- 
t|ons,  nor  was  his  pen -idle.     A  mock  tournament -perhaps 
the  first  m  America -was  a  part  of  the  play;  and  for  this 
he  selected  as  esquire  his  brother  William  Lewis  Andre 
now  a  lieutenant  in  the  7th.     The  appointed  scene  was  at  the' 
country-seat  of  Mr.  Wharton  :  then  a  fine  stately  mansion, 
surrounded  with  large  trees  and  its  grounds  extending  unin- 
terruptedly to  the  Delaware;  now  pent  about  with  factory 
buildings  and  houses,  and  occupied  as  a  public  school.*    Here 

*  The  proprietor  of  this  estate  is  described  as  a  man  of  no  little  social 
Sr'S.";  n  '  ""  --"^«tyJ«d  Du^e  by  reason  of  his  manne  Wh  „ 
tornd  1 1  ^  ?"■  T  ^'  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Wharton,  in  visiting  him  en" 
tered  hat  m  hand.    Sir  William  condescendingly  bade  him  be  covered  •  he 

ngratefnl  to  Lnends  to  render.    The  visitor,  however,  coolly  replied  that  he 
Id  uncovered  for  his  own  comfort,  the  day  being  warm,  and  tl  a  whenev 
he  found  It  convement  he  should  certainly  resume  his  hat.    He  was  utterlv 

maa  had  laid  aside  his  musket  to  trespass  on  Mr.  Wharton's  grounds    Thl 
owner,  possessing  himself  of  it,  by  threats  of  carrying  it  to  thf  g'rdlhoute 


f'M  «*I*-H|; 


v4 


id 
I 


II 

I 

l'l|jlli|ill}| 


166 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


Sir  Henry  Calder  was  lodged,  whose  name  is  subscribed  to 
the  invitations.     It  was  not  a  bad  season  for  one  branch  of 
the  festivity ;  remarkably  fine  green  turtle,  just  arrived  from 
New  Providence,  and  choice  Claret  and  Madeira  wines,  were 
then  in  market  and  doubtless  contributed  to  the  cold  colla- 
tion that  crowned  the  whole.    Much  of  the  decorations,  as  the 
Sienna  marble,  &c.,  was  on  canvas,  in  the  manner  of  stage- 
scenery.     The  supper-room  was  built  however  for  the  occa- 
sion, and  at  every  toast  given  in  it,  a  flourish  of  music  was 
answered  with  three  cheers.    The  mirrors,  lustres,  &c.,  which 
adorned  the  scene  were  borrowed,  says  Watson,  from  the 
town-folk,  and  all  were  returned  uninjured,  with  the  orna- 
ments that  had  been  added  still  appended.     Nothing  in  short 
more  disastrous  than  the  loss  of  a  silver  watch,  for  which  a 
guinea  reward,  "  and  no  questions  asked,"  was  offered,  seems 
to  have  occurred.     The  young  ladies  of  Philadelphia  present 
numbered  about  fifty ;  the  remainder  being  married  women. 
The  intended  wife  of  Captain  Montresor  was  the  leader  of 
one  rank,  while  the  second  was  headed  by  the  future  bride 
of  another  officer.*     The  queen  of  the  Mischianza,  however, 
is  said  to  have  been  a  lady  who,  in  describmg  it  afterwards, 
represented  Andre  as  "  the  charm  of  the  company."     His 

compelled  the  man  to  humiliate  himself  thoroughly  by  way  of  penance; 
but  no  sooner  was  his  piece  returned,  than  he  fell  on  the  Quaker,  and  by 
menaces  of  wounds  and  death  made  him  pass  under  the  Caudine  Forks  in 
the  most  comprehensive  sense  of  the  term. 

*  One  of  David  Franks'  daughters  was  manied  to  Captain  (afterwards 
General)  Oliver  De  Lancy;  and  another  to  Colonel  (afterwards  General 
Sir  Henry)  Johnston  of  the  28th,  who  was  surprised  by  Wayne  at  Stony 
Point,  and  whom  Comwallis  in  Ireland  thus  describes,  July  15,  1799: 
"  Johnston,  although  a  wrong-headed  blockhead,  is  adored  for  his  defence 
at  New  Ross,  and  considered  as  the  Saracen  of  the  South."  His  wife  was 
celebrated  in  America  for  her  undaunted  wit,  that,  generally  exercised  on 
the  Americans,  sometimes  found  a  British  subject.  It  was  she  who  cor- 
rected Sir  H.  Clinton  when  he  called  on  a  ball-room  band  for  "Britons 
strike  home!  "  —  "  Britons  go  home,  you  mean,"  she  cried.— And  see  Lit- 
tell's  Graydon,  469. 

Fac-similes  of  AndriJ's  drawings  of  costumes,  &c.,  and  of  a  Mischianza 
ticket,  are  in  Smith  and  Watson ;  1847. 


a  Miscbianza 


ANDBfi'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  MISCIIIANZA.  167 

designs  for  the  costumes  of  the  ladies  of  the  Burning  Moun 
.«.n,  and  the  Blended  Rose,  are  still  preserved.     The  to  e 
was  a  PoI„„a,se,  or  flowing  robe  of  white  silk,  „i,h  '  Zt 
gled  p,nk  sash   and  spangled  shoes  and  sto  kings,  a  41l 
pangled  and  trimmed  with  silver  kee,  and  a  towering  he^ 
tes  of  pearls  and  jewels.     The  former  had  theif  S 
Iolona,ses  bound  with  blaek,  and  .ashes  of  the  saml     T  » 
wharfs  and  house-topa  towards  the  water  were  tl,  oZd  ,^ 
.speetatot-s  as  the  boats,  filled  with  these  gayly  dressed °„™h 
and  not  ess  brightly  elad  gallants,  pass^d'f^m  the  „S 
part  of  the  e,ty  to  the  scene  of  pleasure.    But  Andri  Z- 
self  has  gtven  a  fall  account  of  the  whole  pr„ceedr„g 

ANDRE   TO    A    FRIEND. 
n         ,      „  Philadelphia,  May  23  I77s 

in  ness.  The  ship  that  carries  home  Sir  William  Howe  ' 
wall  convey  this  letter  to  you,  and  not  even  the  pCsu^of 
onversmg  with  my  friend  can  seeu,^  me  fi-om  the  Ze™, 
dej  c..„n  I  see  around  me,  or  remove  the  share  I  muft  take 
m  the  universal  regret  and  disappointment  which  h is  ap! 
'rs  riimTr'?"*  ^"^^'^  '"-Shout  the  Whole  arm^. 
need  of  so  sk.lfal  and  popular  a  commander  ;  when  the  ex- 

of  the  eountiy  and  people,  have  added  to  the  confidence  we 

always  placed  in  his  conduct  and  abilities.     Yon  know  he 

was  always  a  favourite  with  .ho  military;  but  the  affeiti™ 

nd  attachment  which  all  ranks  of  ofiice^  in  this  arTy  bear 

tl.em  ■„  their  effects.  I  do  not  believe  there  is  upon  reco^ 
an  mstance  of  a  a,mmandei-in.Chief  having  so  unLTallv 
ndeared  himself  to  those  under  hi,,  commrnd ;  or  of  ^ 
wo  received  such  signal  and  flattering  proofs  of  their  loTe! 
That  our  sentiments  might  be  the  more  universally  and  ut 


168 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


i    I 


1 


I 


equivocally  known,  it  was  resolved  amongst  us,  that  we 
should  give  him  as  splendid  an  entertainment  as  the  shoi't< 
ness  of  the  time,  and  our  present  situation,  would  allow  us. 
For  the  expeiices,  the  whole  army  would  have  most  chear- 
fully  contributed ;  but  it  was  requisite  to  draw  the  line  some- 
where, and  twenty-two  field-officers  joined  in  a  subscription 
adequate  to  the  plan  they  meant  to  adopt.  I  know  your 
curiosity  will  be  raised  on  this  occasion ;  I  shall  therefore 
give  you  as  particular  an  account  of  our  Mischianza  as  I 
have  been  able  to  collect.  From  the  name  you  will  perceive 
that  it  was  made  up  of  a  variety  of  entertainments.  Four 
of  the  gentlemen  subscribers  were  appointed  managers  — 
Sir  John  Wrottesley,  Col.  O'Hara,  Major  Gardiner,  and 
Montresor,  the  chief  engineer.  On  the  tickets  of  admission, 
which  they  gave  out  for  Monday  the  18th,  was  engraved,  in 
a  shield,  a  view  of  the  sea,  with  the  setting  sun,  and  on  a 
wreath,  the  words  Luceo  discedens,  aucto  splendore  resurgam. 
At  top  was  the  General's  crest,  with  vive  !  vak  !  All  round 
the  shield  ran  a  vignette,  and  various  military  trophies  filled 
up  the  ground. 

A  grand  regatta  began  the  entertainment.  It  consisted 
of  three  divisions.  In  the  first  was  the  Ferret  galley,  having 
on  board  several  General-Officers,  and  a  number  of  Ladies. 
In  the  centre,  was  the  Hussar  galley  with  Sir  William  and 
Lord  Howe,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  the  Officers  of  their  suite, 
and  some  Ladies.  The  Cornwallis  galley  brought  up  the 
rear,  having  on  board  General  Knyphausen  and  his  suite, 
three  British  Generals,  and  a  party  of  Ladies.  On  each 
quarter  of  these  gallies,  and  forming  their  division,  were  five 
flat  boats,  lined  with  green  cloth,  and  filled  with  Ladies  and 
Gentlemen.  In  front  of  the  whole  were  three  flat  boats;  with 
a  band  of  music  in  each.  Six  barges  rowed  about  each  flank, 
to  keep  off  the  swarm  of  boats  that  covered  the  river  from 
side  to  side.  The  gallies  were  dressed  out  in  a  variety  of 
colours  and  streamers,  and  in  each  flat  boat  was  displayed 
the  flag  of  its  own  division.     In  the  stream  opposite  the  cen- 


1 


us,  that   we 

as  the  shoit- 
uld  allow  us. 

most  chear- 
hc  line  some- 
.  subscription 
[  know  your 
lall  therefore 
chianza  as  I 
will  perceive 
aents.  Four 
managers  — 
ardiner,  and 
3f  admiission, 

engraved,  in 
an,  and  on  a 
>re  resurgam. 
I  All  round 
rophies  filled 

It  consisted 
alley,  having 
er  of  Ladies. 
William  and 
f  their  suite, 
)ught  up  the 
nd  his  suite, 
s.  On  each 
on,  were  five 
1  Ladies  and 
it  boats;  with 
it  each  flank, 
e  river  from 

a  variety  of 
as  displayed 
)site  the  cen- 


ANDU^S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  MISCHIANZA.  169 

iro  of  .he  city,  ,he  Fanny  armed  ship,  magnificently  dceo- 
a.ed^,va,  placed  at  anchor,  and  at  some  distance  ahead  lay 
h.s  Majesty's  sh.p  Eoebnck,  with  the  Admiral's  flag  h„i„ed 
at  he  foretop-mast-head.  The  transport  ships,  extending  i„ 
a  hne  the  »h„le  length  of  the  town,  appeared  with  colons 
flying  and  crowded  with  spectators,  as  were  also  the  ope" 
.ngs  of  the  several  wharfs  on  shore,  exhibiting  the  most  pio- 
luresqne  and  enlivening  scene  the  eye  could  desire.  The 
rendezvous  was  at  Knight's  Wharf,  at  the  northern  extremilv 

embarked,  and  the  signal  being  made  by  the  Vi^ilant^s  Zl 
mng  sh,p,  the  three  divisions  rowed  slowly  down",  preser"  n" 
h  ,  p^per  mteryals,  and  keeping  time  to  the  music  hal 
kd  th  fleet.  Arrived  between  the  Fanny  and  the  Ma  ke 
What-f,  a  signal  was  made  f™m  one  of  the  boats  ahead^and 
the  whole  ay  „p„„  their  oar..,  while  the  music  played^"rf 
»™  tUK«u,,  and  three  cheers  given  from  the  4sel  „7rf 
returned  from  the  multitude  on  shore.     By  this  time    Z 

•t'tf:  ^r^-.'-.-p'^  - "-« games  t^  idL'r  'the; 

«re  tlet-efore  qu.tted,  and  the  company  disposed  of  „  the 
dtfleren  barges.    This  alteration  broke  [n  ujin  the  „,^"r  „f 
procession,  but  was  necessary  to  give  sufficient  time  for  dii^ 
Playtng  the  entertainments  that  were  prepared  on  shore 
Ihe  landing-place  was  at  the  Old  Fort    a  hi.Ie  fn  .!,„ 

:::rof tii'r  "'"■"'  ^-'t-^  '^^  ■»■»  Wp«  ;: : 

reception  of  the  company  about  four  hundred  yards  from  the 
«ter  by  a  gentle  ascent.    As  soon  as  the  General'sTa™ 
was  seen  to  push  for  the  shore,  a  salute  of  seventeen  gm! 
was  fired  from  the  Roebuck,  and,  after  some  interval  by  "he 
s^me  number  from  the  Vigilant.      The  company,  as  Aey 
disembarked,  arranged  themselves  into  a  line  of  proees  ioT 
and  advanced  through  an  avenue  formed  by  twoTe    of 
grenadiers,  and  a  line  of  light-horse  supporfing  each  file 
This  avenue  led  to  a  square  lawn  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  on  each  side,  lined  with  troops,  and  properly  propam^ 
for  the  exhibition  of  a  tilt  and  tournamenf,  acc-ording  to Te 


'1 ' 

I 


;<'. 


aGi: 


t::».-ii 


170 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDRlS. 


'^''flii'li 

'    'hi  I  si 


customs  and  ordinances  of  ancient  chivalry.  We  proceeded 
through  the  centre  of  the  square.  The  music,  consisting  of 
all  the  bands  of  the  ai-my,  moved  in  front.  The  Managei's, 
with  favours  of  white  and  blue  ribbands  in  their  breasts,  fol- 
lowed next  in  order.  The  General,  Admiral,  and  the  rest 
of  the  company,  succeeded  promiscuously. 

In  front  appeared  the  building,  bounding  the  view  through 
a  vista  formed  by  two  triumphal  arches,  erected  at  proper 
intervals  in  a  line  with  the  landing-place.  Two  pavilions, 
with  rows  of  benches  rising  one  above  the  other,  and  serv- 
ing as  the  wings  of  the  first  triumphal  arch,  received  the 
Ladies;  while  the  Gentlemen  ranged  themselves  in  con- 
venient order  on  each  side.  On  the  front  seat  of  each  pa- 
vilion were  placed  seven  of  the  principal  young  Ladies  of 
the  country,  dressed  in  Turkish  habits,  and  wearing  in  their 
turbans  the  favours  with  which  they  meant  to  reward  the 
several  Knights  who  were  to  contend  in  their  honour.  These 
arrangements  were  scarce  made  when  the  sound  of  trumpets 
was  heard  at  a  distance ;  and  a  band  of  Knights,  dressed  in 
ancient  habits  of  white  and  red  silk,  and  mounted  on  grey 
horses  richly  caparisoned  in  trappings  of  the  same  colours, 
entered  the  lists,  attended  by  their  Esquires  on  foot,  in  suit- 
able apparel,  in  the  following  order : 

Four  trumpeters,  properly  habited,  their  trumpets  deco- 
rated with  small  pendent  banners.  A  herald  in  his  robes 
of  ceremony  ;  on  his  tunic  was  the  device  of  his  band,  two 
roses  intertwined,  with  the  Motto,  We  droop  when  sepa- 
rated. 

Lord  Cathcart,  superbly  mounted  on  a  managed  horse, 
appeared  as  chief  of  these  Knights ;  two  young  black  slaves, 
with  sashes  and  drawers  of  blue  and  white  silk,  wearing  large 
silver  clasps  round  their  necks  and  arms,  their  breasts  and 
shoulders  bare,  held  his  stirrups.  On  his  right  hand  walked 
Capt.  Hazard,  and  on  his  left  Capt.  Brownlow,  his  two  Es- 
quires, the  one  bearing  his  lance,  the  other  his  shield. 

His  device  was  Cupid  riding  on  a  Lien ;  the  Motto,  Sur- 


e  proceeded 
consisting  of 
e  Managers, 
'  breasts,  fol- 
and  the  rest 

ieAv  through 
id  at  proper 
fo  pavilions, 
jr,  and  serv- 
reeeived  the 
Ives  in  con- 

of  each  pa- 
g  Ladies  of 
ing  in  their 

reward  the 
lour.  These 
of  trumpets 
I,  dressed  in 
ted  on  grey 
irae  colours, 
foot,  in  suit- 


ANDRES  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  MISCHIANZA.  171 

Zht  u '^  Zo.e.     His  Lordship  appeared  in  honour  of  Mi. 

Then  came  in  order  the  Knigl.ts  of  his  band,  each  attended 
by  h.s  Squire  bearing  his  lance  and  shield.  ^ 

St.  Knight    Hon.  Capf.  Cathcart,  in  honour  of  Miss  N 

s,";  S:'S.:iT; j  "c3 1^'^  %".-.- 

Motto,  Without  £nd,  '       ^      ^'""^'"^  a  Cu-clej 

3rd.  Knight,  Capt.  Andre,  in  honour  of  Miss  P  Phew 

n  "It,  Sue' T^ •  ''T""'  1  ""-"'  ^-  ««^- 
ATr.,i      Ai  -laibot — Device,  a  burn  n^  Hearf  • 

Motto,  Absence  cannot  extinguish.  "  ' 

SnHr;  f  "'^'^''J^'^.!'  ^^""^'^^^'  ^"  »'«"«"^-  of  Miss  Bond.., 
f^quire,  Lieut.  Hamilton.  —  Device  a  winrro,!  w      »   Tt 

i;W.^  Jb^V  iy  Turn.  '  °  ^  ^^''^'^ '  ^«"«' 

6th.  Knight,  Lieut.  Sloper,  in  honour  of  Miss  M.  Shippen 

Jttolto,  Honour  and  the  Fair.  ' 

After  Ihey  had  made  the  circuit  of  the  .quare,  and  saluted 
.e  Lad.es  as  they  passed  before  the  pavilions,  they  raS 
emselves  .,,  a  line  with  that  in  „hich  were  the  LadTe "  rf 
their  Device ;  and  their  Herald  (Mr  Beanm„n,\    T 
ing  into  the  centre  of  the  square,  aft^eTa  floTrsT^^,  tel 
proclaimed  tlie  following  challenge  •  'rampets, 

"The  Knights  of  the  Blended"  Rose,  by  ,ne  their  Herald 
procla™  and  assert  that  the  Ladies  of  the  Blended  S 
'■  Z  riS  '"?'  r ,r"^  "-"P"^'-"-.,  those  „f^ 

lists  with  them,  and  maintain  their  assertions  by  deeds  of 
'arms,  according  to  the  laws  of  ancient  chivalry^ 
At  the  thii^  repetition  of  the  challenge  the  sound  of 


i 


A 


172 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDU£. 


trumpets  wns  heard  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  square; 
and  another  II<M'ald,  with  four  Trumpeter.-*,  dressed  in  black 
and  orange,  galloped  into  the  lists.  Ho  was  met  by  the 
Hemld  of  the  Ulended  Rose,  and  after  a  short  parley  they 
both  advanced  in  front  of  the  pavilions,  when  the  Black 
Herald  (Lieut.  Moore)  ordered  his  trumpets  to  sound,  and 
then  proclaimed  defiance  to  the  challenge  in  the  following 
words : 

"The  Knights  of  the  Burning  Mountain  present  them- 
"  selves  here,  not  to  contest  by  words,  but  to  disprove  by 
"deeds,  the  vain-glorious  assertions  of  the  Knights  of  the 
"  Blended  Rose,  and  enter  these  lists  to  maintain,  that  the 
"  Ladies  of  the  Burning  Mountain  arc  not  excelled  in  beauty, 
"  virtue,  or  accomplishments,  by  any  in  the  universe." 

He  then  returned  to  the  part  of  the  barrier  through  which 
he  had  entered,  and  shortly  after  the  Black  Knights,  attended 
by  their  Squires,  rode  into  the  lists  in  the  following  order : 

Four  Trumpeters  preceding  the  Herald,  on  whose  tunic 
was  represented  a  mountain,  sending  forth  flames. — Motto, 
2  bw'n  for  ever. 

Captain  Watson,  of  the  guards,  as  Chief,  dressed  in  a  mag- 
nificent suit  of  black  and  orange  silk,  and  mounted  on  a  black 
managed  horse,  with  trappings  of  the  same  colour  with  his 
own  dress,  appeared  in  honour  of  Miss  Franks.  He  was 
attended  in  the  same  manner  with  Lord  Cathcart.  Capt. 
Scot  bore  his  lance,  and  Lieut.  Lyttelton  his  shield.  The 
Device,  a  Heart,  with  a  Wreath  of  Flowers ;  Motto,  Love 
and  Glory. 

1st.  Knight,  Lieut.  Underwood,  in  honour  of  Miss  S.  Ship- 
pen.  —  Squire,  Ensign  Haverkam.  —  Device,  a  Pelican  feed- 
ing her  young ;  Motto,  For  those  I  love. 

2nd.  Knight,  Lieut.  Winyard,  in  honour  of  Miss  P.  Ship- 
pen.  —  Squire,  Capt.  Boscawen.  —  Device,  a  Bay-leaf;  Mot- 
to, Unchangeable. 

3rd.  Knight,  Lieut.  Deleval,  in  honour  of  Miss  B.  Bond.— 
Squire,   Capt.   Thorne.  —  Device,   a   Heart,   aimed  at  by 


111 


ANDkt'S   ACCOUNT  OF  THK  MISCHIANZA. 


173 
sjcrul  arrow.,  and  struck  by  one  ;  Motto,  One  onh,  pierce, 

4th.  Knight,  Monsieur  Montluissant,  (Lieut,  of  the  lies- 
sum  Chasseurs,)  in  honour  of  Miss  U.  Uechnan. -Squire 
Capt.  Campbell.  --  Deviee,  a  Sunflower  turning  towards  the 
Sim  ;  Motto,  Je  vise  a  voua. 

5th.  Knight,  Lieut.  Ilobbart,  in  honour  of  Miss  S.  Chew 
-Squ.re,  Lieut.  Briscoe.- Device,  Cupid  piercing  a  Coat 
of  Ma.1  w.th  h.s  Arrow;  Motto,  Proof  to  all  but  Love. 

Cth.  Kn"ght,Brigade.MnjorTarIton,  in  honour  of  Miss  W 
Sm.th. -Squire,  Capt.  Heart. -  Device,  a  Light  Dragoon; 
Giotto,  Gwifl,  vigilant,  and  lolJ. 

After  they  had  rode  round  the  lists,  and  made  their  obei- 
.ance  to  the  Laji      ^,,^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^  ^^^^  ^^^,^^ 

ad  tlie  C  Hef  of  these  having  thrown  down  his  gauntlet:  the 
Chief  of  tlje  Black  Knights  directed  his  Esquire  to  take  it 
up.     Ihe  Knights  then  received  their  lances  from  their  Es- 
quires  fixed  their  shields  on  their  left  arms,  and  making,  a 
general  salute  to  each  other,  by  a  very  graceful  movement 
of  their  lances,  turned  round  to  take  their  career,  and,  encoun- 
tenng  m  full  gallop,  shivered  their  spears.     In  the  second 
and  third  encounter  they  discharged  their  pistols.     In  the 
fourth  they  fought  with  their  swords.     At  length  the  two 
Chiefs,  spurring  forward  into  the  centre,  engaged  furiously 
m  smgle   combat,  till   the  Marshal  of  the   Field   (Major 
Gwyne)  rushed  in  between  the  Chiefs,  and  declared  that 
the  I  air  Damsels  of  the  Blended  Rose  and  Burnin-.  Moun- 
tain were  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  proofs  of  love,  and  the 
signal  feats  of  valour,  given  by  their  respective  Kni-hts  • 
and  commanded  them,  as   they  prized  the  future  favours' 
ot  their  Mistresses,  that  they   would  instantly  desist  from 
further  combat.     Obedience   being  paid  by  the   Chiefs   to 
this  order,  they  joined  their  respective  bands.'    The  White 
Jimghts  and  their  attendants  filed  off  to  the  left,  the  Black 
Knights  to  the  nght ;  and,  after  passing  eacli  other  at  the 
lower  side  of  the  quadrangle,  moved  up  alternately,  till  the^ 


a*  "HI 


174 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


approached  the  pavilion  of  the  Ladies,  when  they  gave  a  gen- 
eral salute. 

A  passage  being  now  opened  between  the  two  pavilions, 
the  Knights,  preceded  by  their  Squires  and  the  bands  of 
music,  rode  through  the  first  triumphal  arch,  and  arranged 
themselves  to  the  right  and  left.     This  arch  was  erected  in 
honour  of  Lord  Howe.    It  presented  two  fronts,  in  the  Tus- 
can order;   the  pediment  was  adorned  with  various  naval 
trophies,  and  at  the  top  was  the  figure  of  Neptune,  with  a 
trident  in  his  right  hand.     In  a  nich,  on  each  side,  stood 
u  Sailor,  with  a  drawn  cutlass.     Three  Plumes  of  Feathers 
were  placed  on  the  summit  of  each  wing,  and  in  the  entabla- 
ture was  this  inscription :  Laus  iUi    'ehetur,  et  a  me  gratia 
major.     The  interval  between  the  two  arches  was  an  avenue 
three  hundred  feet  long,  and  thirty-four  broad.     It  was  lined 
on  each  side  with  a  file  of  troops ;  and  the  colours  of  all  the 
army,  planted  at  proper  distances,  bad  a  beautiful  effect  in 
diversify/ ing  the  scene.     Between  these  colours  the  Knights 
and  Squires  took  their  stati\^ns.     The  Bands  continued  to 
play  several  pieces  of  martial  music.     The  Company  moved 
forward  in  procession,  with  the  Ladies  in  the  Turkish  habits 
in  front ;  as  these  passed,  they  were  saluted  by  their  Knights, 
who  then  dismounted  and  joined  them ;  and  in  this  order 
we  were  all  conducted  into  a  garden  that  fronted  the  house, 
through  the  second  triumphal  arch,  dedicated  to  the  General. 
This  arch  was  also  built  in  the  Tuscan  order.     On  the  in- 
terior part  of  the  pediment  was  painted  a  Plume  of  Feathers, 
and  various  military  trophies.     At  top  stood  the  figure  of 
Fame,  and  in  the  entablature  this  device,  —  ij  hone,  quo  vir- 
tm  tua  te  vocet ;  Ipedefamto.    On  the  right-hand  pillar  was 
placed  a  bomb-shell,  and  on  the  left  a  flaming  heart.     The 
front  next  the  house  was  adorned  with  preparations  for  a 
fire-work.     From  the  garden  we  ascended  a  flight  of  steps, 
covered  with  carpets,  which  led  into  a  spacious  hall;  the 
panels,  painted  in  imitation  of  Sienna  marble,  enclosing  fes- 
toons of  white  marble :  the  surbase,  and  all  below,  was  black. 


3y  gave  a  gen- 


AM.B6.S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  MISCHIAN2A.  175 

tmy  seated    heraseteJ.T  •"    T7' '"  "''''='*  ""^  <»•»- 

uteranUy  filled  with  flower,  „f  !i,       f  ^'     ^''™"«»P'«.  ^^- 
versed,  and  emptied.  P-^sented  itself,  shrunk,  re- 

,     cuuiaiea  in  a  light,  elegant  st  le  of  naintina     Th^ 

.beir  naturattours  tet  .Ir"""'"."  '^''°°'"  "^  «°"'"  ■■" 
rose-pink,  wi-h  drper^^^t:.^  :,t''t^f  ?""»<';-  "' 
tions  were  hei<^IitenP.1  L  .-7.^  ^^^^^  ^^«ora- 

-.p..  siir^riXn^rjars^ 

intermediate  spaces  were  thirty  f        "owers,  and  m  the 
.igbts,  ornan.en'-.ed  in T Il^Klr:"""^'  "'*   ^^ 

«Ue  and  taste  ^"11'^^  ^l!  "f^  '"  ">»  -"« 
Ihe  Knights  and  their  lafc  :„,nt  .  '""^  "'""'^  "^ 
tan  o'clock,  when  the  ItiZ  «  e  tht  ""^  """"'""'''  "" 
nifioent  bouqnet  of  -eker^'A^'i'  ^0!"' Ttr ''=■ 
panned  by  Capt.  Montresor,  the  0,167^1-  ^'"^"^'^ 
ssted  of  twentv  diff™     "',"?.""'  Engineer,  and  con- 

of  beau.,.  Toti^  T  jnrs::L":hV    '-■'""'  '"•"' 

triumphal  arch  was  ill„ml,!?  ,        f'  ^  '"'"="'"'  P""  "f  ">e 

of  Jets  ^naZX,7M^rx:::ir '"''''' "'«"' 

each  side  assumed  a  vari«v  of  ,™  ""^  "°P^'""  "" 

shell  and  flaming  he^rt  „T2       '""nsparent  colours.    Tho 
,  .  """iij,  iicarD  on  the  wmo-s  sf>nf  f^ffk  nu-         /. 

tains,  succeeded  by  fireworks      F-l!  ,        ''^  ^^""" 

.--h  stars.  a„L,.j--tru'm;::Er.:'xr: 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 

device  in  letters  of  light,  Tes  Lauriers  sont  immortels.  —  A 
sauteur  of  Rockets,  bursting  from  the  pediment,  concluded 
the  feu  (Tartifice. 

At  twelve,  supper  was  announced,  and  large  folding  doors, 
hitherto  artfully  concealed,  being  suddenly  thrown  open,  dis- 
covered a  magnificent  saloon  of  two  hundred  and  ten  feet 
by  forty,  and  twenty-two  in  height,  with  three  alcoves  on 
each  side,  which  served  for  side-boards.  The  ceiling  was 
the  segment  of  a  circle,  and  the  sides  were  painted  of  a  light 
straw-colour,  with  vine-leaves  and  festoon-flowers,  some  in  a 
bright,  some  in  a  darkish  green.  Fifty-six  large  pier-glasses, 
ornamented  with  green  silk  artificial  flowers  and  ribbands ;  a 
hundred  branches  with  three  lights  in  each,  trimmed  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  mirrours;  eighteen  lustres,  each  with 
twenty-four  lights,  suspended  from  the  ceiling,  and  orna- 
mented as  the  branches  ;  three  hundred  wax-tapers,  disposed 
along  the  supper  tables ;  four  hundred  and  thirty  covers ; 
twelve  hundred  dishes  ;  twenty-four  black  slaves,  in  oriental 
dresses,  with  silver  collars  and  bracelets,  ranged  in  two  lines 
and  bending  to  the  ground  as  the  General  and  Admiral  ap- 
proached the  saloon  :  all  these,  forming  together  the  most 
brilliant  assemblage  of  gay  objects,  and  appearing  at  once 
as  we  entered  by  an  easy  ascent,  exhibited  a  coup  d'oeil  be- 
yond description  magnificent. 

Towards  the  end  of  supper,  the  Herald  of  the  Blended 
Rose,  in  his  habit  of  ceremony,  attended  by  his  trumpeters, 
entered  the  saloon,  and  proclaimed  the  King's  health,  the 
Queen  and  Royal  Family,  the  Army  and  Navy,  with  their 
respective  Commanders,  the  Knights  and  their  Ladies,  the 
Ladies  in  general ;  each  of  these  toasts  was  followed  by  a 
flourish  of  music.  After  supper  wo  returned  to  the  ball- 
room, and  continued  to  dance  till  four  o'clock. 

Such,  my  dear  friend,  is  the  description,  though  a  very 
faint  one,  of  the  most  splendid  entertainment,  I  believe,  ever 
given  by  an  army  to  their  General.  But  what  must  be  most 
grateful  to  Sir  W.  Howe  is  the   spirit  and  motives  from 


;,  and  orna- 


VERSES    COMPOSED   BY    ANDRt.  177 

of  liU  array,  than  alMI,,        ^    .    *  '"'"'  ""''  "'"wh-ent 
o»r  officer.,  andlC  »L  1 1"!  ''™  ""'  '""^'  «""""'  "f 

™n,,  Knyphauf  "„  wl,  r     ""^""''""^'^  G^eral  of  the  Hes- 
of  his  Offleer.  .ClS  hta""  s'  T  """'-^'  """  """ 

™.  re.™.  X  sawTor„:t^; -"- Sr  ^'-    «" 

Adieu,  &c.* 

honor  of  Howe,    „t  Xh  twT      ,""  "'"  ""'"'■'"  "' 

Down  from  the  starry  threshold  of  Jove's  court 
A  messenger  I  come,  to  grace  your  sport 
And  at  your  feet  th'  immortal  wreath  I  lly 
From  ch.es  of  old  renown,  who  bid  me  sav. 

WUh'^^Hl  ^'"^  T  "P'^'"  ''  P'-«°  the  fair, 
VV  1th  all  the  sportive  images  of  war. 

addressed  to  Mr.  Ewer;  Lt  more  IhS^^^^  ^^'^-  ^^^  '"'-^^  ^ave  been 
a^y  connection  both  wi  h  AnrfaErTh^V?':"'"^'^'-*^'  ^«  ^^''-^  "'- 
to  attribute  the  insertion  of  v!r  "'^^  '  Magazine  I  am  inclined 

America,  some  olZl\llZT  T^'  "'  "i'"^'"^  ^"^^"'^^^^  ^^o™ 
open.  ^"  ''^'"^  '""'^^s  of  sources  of  information  not  always 

9 


"l^Uii' 


''^«i  ii. 


I 


178  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 

Round  Arthur's  board,  •when  chivalry  was  young, 

In  justs  and  tilts  their  manly  nerves  they  strung: 

Scorning  to  waste  the  intervals  of  peace 

In  sordid  riot,  or  inglorious  ease. 

Martial  and  bold  their  exercises  were ;  ^ 

Though  Gothic,  grand;  though  festive,  yet  severe! 

Design'd  to  fire  the  breast  to  deeds  of  worth 

And  call  th'  impatient  soul  of  glory  forth. 

Thus  train'd  to  virtue,  when  the  trumpet's  sound, 

And  red  cross  streaming,  led  to  holy  ground ; 

Or  violated  rights,  and  Freedom's  call. 

Bade  them  chastise  the  perfid}-  of  Gaul ; 

Each  lover,  mindful  '■''  his  plighted  vow 

A  hero  rose,  inflam'd  with  patriot  glow. 

The  cause  of  beauty  his  peculiar  care ; 

His  motto  still  —  "  The  brave  deserve  the  fair." 

Air,  in  Artaxerxe*. 

"  The  soldier,  tir'd  of  war's  alarms. 
Exults  to  feast  on  beauty's  charms, 
And  drops  the  spear  and  shield : 
But  if  the  brazen  trumpet  sound 
He  burns  with  conquest  to  be  crown'd, 
And  dares  again  the  field." 

Oh!  Le  th'  example  copied  in  each  heart; 
Let  modern  Britons  act  the  ancient  part ; 
And  you,  great  Sir,  these  parting  rites  receive 
Which,  bath'd  in  tears,  your  hardy  veterans  give ; 
Veterans  approv'd,  who  never  knew  to  yield 
When  Howe  and  Glory  led  them  to  the  field. 
To  other  scenes  your  country's  sacred  cause 
Now  calls  you  hence,  the  champion  of  her  laws. 
Your  Veterans,  to  your  brave  successor  true. 
By  honouring  him,  will  seek  to  honour  you. 

And  ye,  bright  nymphs,  who  grace  this  hallow'd  ground, 
In  all  the  blooming  pride  of  beauty  crown'd. 
Still  strive  to  south  the  hero's  generous  toils. 
With  what  he  deems  his  best  reward,  your  smiles. 

The  other,  a  little  less  flattering  in  tone,  is  accompanied 
by  stage-directions.  It  contains  also  a  provident  compliment 
to  the  rising  sun. 


jre: 


Id, 


VERSES  COMPOSED   BY  ANDR£. 
ADDRESS 


179 


re; 


3  ground, 


es. 


accompanied 
it  compliment 


INTENDED   TO  HAVE   BEEV  RPnu^r-xr    .-„ 

inscription:  ^^aurei^wreath  avith  the  following 

WheJr  *^*"'^'  ''"^  ™P'«"«  *«  decide 

Eno„rJ^  "'  ^i'r''  ""^''^  '^'  f^"''  side. 
Enough  for  us,  if  by  such  sports  we  strove 
To  grace  this  feast  of  militarv  love- 
And,  joining  in  the  wish  of  every  heart 
Honour'd  the  friend  and  leader  «e  we  p'art. 

When  great  in  arms  our  brave  forefathers  rose 
And  loos'd  the  British  Lion  on  his  foes  ' 

St  fj  '""J^^""^^'  ^'^^  P^'-J-'d  to'o  and  base 
The  faithless  fathers  of  a  faithless  race. 
First  to  attack,  tho'  still  the  first  to  yie  d 
Shrunk  from  their  rage  on  Poictiers  kurel'd  field  • 

Who  led  their  steps  to  victory  and  fame. 

Thro  every  rank  the  martial  ardor  ran ; 

All  fear'd  the  chieftain,  but  all  lov'd  th^  man  • 

And  fired  with  the  soul  of  this  bright  day      ' 

Pay'd  to  a  Salisbury  what  to  Howe  we  pay ' 

Shame  to  the  envious  slave  that  dares  bemoan 

Their  sons  degenerate,  or  their  spirit  flown  -! 
Let  maddening  Faction  drive  this  guiltyl 'd 
With  her  worst  foes  to  form  th'  unnatural  Lnfl . 
In  yon,  brave  crowd,  old  British  cou^ge  gW^ 
Unconquer'd,  growing  as  the  danger  Jows 

*  The  Knights  so  distiii<-  /  -hcU. 


180 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


With  hearts  as  bold  as  e'er  their  fathers  bore 

Their  country  they'll  avenge,  her  fame  restore. 

Rouz'd  to  the  charge,  mcthinks  I  hear  them  cry, 

Revenge  and  glory  sparkling  from  each  eye,  — 

"  Chain'd  to  our  arms  while  Howe  the  battle  led, 

"  Still  round  these  files  her  winga  shall  Conquest  spread. 

"  Lov'd  tho'  he  goes,  the  spirit  still  remains 

"  That  with  him  bore  us  o'er  these  trembling  plains. 

"  On  Hudson's  banks  *  the  sure  presage  we  read 

"  Of  other  triumphs  to  our  arms  decreed : 

"  Nor  fear  but  equal  honours  shall  repay 

"  Each  hardy  deed  where  Clinton  leads  the  way !  " 

It  need  not  be  thought  however,  that  honors  such  as 
Rome  might  have  rendered  to  a  conqueror  were  now  paid 
without  criticism  to  a  general  who  had  made  no  conquests. 
McLane  took  the  occasion  to  beat  up  the  lines  so  thoroughly 
that  he  was  pursued  to  the  Wissahiccon  Hills ;  but  the  pro- 
moters of  the  gala  kept  their  fair  guests  tranquil.  Others 
whose /or<e  was  the  pen  rather  than  the  sword,  were  not  so 
soon  silenced.     Galloway  was  never  weary  of  the  theme. 

— "  We  had  seen  the  same  General,  with  a  vanity  and 
presumption  unparalleled  in  history,  after  this  indolence, 
after  all  these  wretched  blunders,  accept  from  a  few  of  his 
officers  a  triumph  more  magnificent  than  would  have  become 
the  conqueror  of  America,  without  the  consent  of  his  sover- 
eign or  approbation  of  his  country,  and  that  at  a  time  when 
the  news  of  war  with  France  had  just  arrived,  and  in  the 
very  city,  the  capital  of  North  America,  the  late  seat  of  Con- 
gress, which  in  a  few  days  was  to  be  delivered  up  to  that 
Congress."  f 

*  "  The  North-river  expedition  from  New  York,  last  autumn." 
t  —  Galloway's  Reply,  &c.  See  also  Towne's  Confession  (written  by 
Dr.  Witherspooa),  Philadelphia,  1783 ;  and  Strictures  on  the  Philadelphia 
Mischianza,  or  Triumph  upon  leaving  America  unconquered  (London 
printed,  Philadelphia  reprinted,  1783):  that  I  am  inclined  to  attribute  to 
Galloway.  This  tract  ascribes  the  /t*<e  to  Sir  William's  flatterers,  "  pro- 
moted by  his  favour,  or  possibly  enriched  by  his  connivance." — "He 
bounced  off  with  his  bombs  and  burning  hearts  set  upon  the  pillars  of  his 
triumphal  arch,  which,  at  the  proper  time  of  the  show,  burst  out  in  a 
shower  of  squibs  and  crackers  and  other  fireworks,  to  the  delectable 


THE  MISCHIANZA.  jgj 

Mischmnza  was  in  ev  JCl    °   .y-^'^S'™-    When  .l,e 
r     -I        11    r  ^  *^"^  **  mouth,  a  youno-  nerson  nf  ♦!.« 

fannly  asked  of  an  old  n,„jor  of  ar.il  er/„ha°  ™  "he  d 

Mounj-rir;  a^drK^iitof  r  s-f 

reeen  them.      Then,  placing  a  hand  on  either  knee  he  „,i 
ded  ,„  a  ,„„e  of  „„3„ppre3,ed  bonification  -  "Wha^li 
Washington  think  of  all  this !  "  vviiat  will 


I  I'MI  II 


UK 


CHAPTER  X. 

Erncimtion  of  Philadelphia. -Battle  of  Monmouth. -D'Estaing's  Arrival 
-Andro  accompanies  Grey  against  New  Bedford. -His  Satirical  Verses 
on  the  Investment  of  Newport.  -  Aide  to  Clinton.  -  Character  of  this 
General.  — Andre's  Verses  upon  an  American  Duel. 

The  instructions  under  which  Clinton  was  to  take  com- 
mand    liad  involved  an  early  and  vigorous  campaign,  and 
preparations  at  Philadelphia   were  made  accordingly.     On 
the  23d  of  May,  however,  the  orders  of  March  2lst  were 
received,  which,  in  consideration  of  the  hostile  intervention 
of  France,  looked  to  a  retreat  to  New  York  and  large  de- 
tachments thence  to  the  West  Indies.*     A  council  of  war 
was  held,  and  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia  provided  for. 
The  immense  military  stores,  together  with  3000  of  the  civil 
population  who  feared  to  meet  the  wrath  of  the  incoming 
Americans,  were  to  be  sent  in  the  fleet;  the  troops,  with 
their  provision-trains,  &c.,  for  lack  of  room  on  board,  were 
to  march  by  land.     All  were  busied  with  preparations  for 
removal.     Knyphausen  bade  farewell  to  the  pleasant  quar- 
ters  in  2nd  Street,  where  he  should  no  more  spread  butter  on 
his  bread  with  his  thumb.     Andre's  loclgings  were  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  Franklin,  a  full  description  of  which,  with  all 
Its  furniture  down  to  the  pictures  of  the  king  and  queen  and 
of  the  Earl  of  Bute,  «in  the  room  for  our  friends,"  is  given 
by  Mrs.  Franklin  to  her  husband,  in  1765.     His  daughter, 

*  "The  first  orders  Sir  H.  Clinton  had  were  to  bring  Washington  to  ac- 
tion, to  detach  an  expedition  against  seaports,  &c.,  when  the  promised  re- 
mforccments  should  arrive  (12000  recruits)  to  complete  his  army  On  the 
interference  of  the  [French?]  near  12000,  instead  of  sent,  were  taken  from 
bir  H.  C.  He  was  ordered  to  embark  the  army  and  proceed  to  New  York. 
where  the  commissioners  were  to  open  communication,  and  then  to  detach 
to  W.  Indies,  &c."  —  Clintm  MS. 


,91 

M 


EVACUATION  OP  nilLADELPUIA. 


183 
Mrs.  liachc,  Imd  abandoned  .l,e  place  on  Howe's  apnmael, 
On  her  return  she  eon,plained  of  some  spoliaUonsTout 
not  so  great  as  she  had  expected  "from  the  tonTof  Toll 
rapacous  crew .••  "A  Captain  Andrd  also  took  with  hi 'he 
pcure  of  you  which  hung  in  the  dining-roo™.-    ole  milht 

tlrat,  while  Franlihn  was  at  the  head  of  the  American  iMst 
offi^,  we,^  p,  ed  away  in  the  garrets  of  this  house  r"  P""" 
Before  passing  from  Philadelphia,  mention  may  he  made 

1; "s  lat:;'- '^'  ::'7\  »^ """  -'---atfd :,  it 

t  nZZ    %hlV      '"^,^''''''  ""^  '"'  «"•=  «"«  "gain 
pren^ureu.     fhe  Sprmgettsbury  Manor-house,  in  the  nre, 
ent  neighborhood  of  2nii,  o„j  c    •  »">  "•  lue  pies- 

•hen  a  favorite  rel.?.         ,^P""S-g»«'en  Streets,  was 
m*oxue  resort  lor  rural  entertahments       Thnn^u 
long  disused  by  the  Penns,  its  proprietor,?  the -hoie'S 
grounds  were  kept  up,  and  officers  were  aceustomedT  n^ 
v-de  dinner-parties  there.     Two  ladies  of  the  famHy  of  2 
nformant,  who  had  known  Andre,  were  on  their Tay  ^7 
odine  with  Washington  and  some  other  Am     0!^^' 
w  ere  Andi^   and  his  comrades  had  often   feasted  be  or^ 
As  they  passed  through  the  groves  of  cedars  and  catair 
-hat  surrounded  the  mansion,  they  perceived  simuIlaneot"v 
a  eoT.se  dangling  from  a  limb,  clad  as  a  BritS^  offlcef 
which  presently,  as  they  drew  nearer,  swung  around  as 

!S'  ''^r  ""'"?'  '"'•*'™  of  'h*^  «>Pe-    The  fLe  then  wa 
visible,  calm,  and  stiff,  as  in  death;  but  they  immelwy 

eeogmzed  it  as  Captain  Andrd's.    On  approachinTthe  tl"^ 

<lie  Illusion  vanished.    At  dinner  they  dM  not  coneeauE 

adventure,  but  related  it  with  a  faith  tLt  prov^krd  the  pllhe 

ComLvof  PhiSl-  °'  ""J'"'*  Wm  tmm  the  library 

..n  Jby  tt  pit  ta*  pS"   "r  ^"f!^!"^'''  '"■»  "■•<>  been  Z 
«  numerous,  ."di";  elv  to  .      ''™"r''''"«  ">  ""»  '""""i™  "ere 

U«,.„d  tl,.t  fterJ  h  „„  L"  .    .'''.■"°  '"*  ""*  '""  "■">"« 

of  any  peecadilirj/h.     ?      ^  '^"'°  '°  '"'"«™  «""  Andr.S  was  guilty 
appear  th...ni  ■""'^  ™P""<'  '»  h™.    Certainly  it  does  Jt 

S  sth  ZZP"""'"  """  "■=  '«■""  »f  «■»  ■■■^-^  -er  eU:! 


I  *:l 


■ 


m 


ITi 


184 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


ridicule  of  Wasliington  to  tiio  extent  at  last  of  hearty  laugh- 
ter at  their  credulity  :   a  circumstance  especially  remarked 
by  one  of  them,  who  never  previously  had  seen  him  laugh. 
Many  years  later,  when  he  was  President,  this  lady  again 
dined  with  Washington  at  Philadelphia ;  and  took  occasion, 
she  says,  to  remind  him  of  his  mirth.     He  was  much  dis- 
turbed, she  said,  and  bade   her  never  to  refer  the  subject 
to  him  more ;  that  it  was  a  matter  he  would  not  recur  to, 
since  it  had  already  greatly  troubled  and  perplexed  him. 
The  narrator  of  this  tale,  it  may  be  added,  was  a  lady  of 
distinguished  mental  endowments,  well  versed  even  in  He- 
brew and  Greek  studies ;  while  her  comrade  was  daughter 
and  sister  of  two  of  the  first  medical  men  of  their  day.     It 
was  hardly  through  ignorance  therefore  that  they  could  have 
fallen  into  their  delusion. 

Meanwhile  Andre  in  the  flesh  was  busily  employed.    "  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  made  no  secret  of  his  intention  of  quitting 
Philadelphia ; "  *  but  at  Valley  Forge  it  was  not  for  some 
time  known  whither  his  course  would  be   directed.     The 
commissioners,  arriving  on  the  6th  of  June,  1778,  found  Lira 
almost  ready  to  move.     A  great  number  of  baggage-wa'^ons 
were  gathered  at  Cooper's  Point,  on  the  Jersey  shore  of  the 
Delaware  ;  and  most  of  the  artillery  and  stores,  with  several 
regiments,  were  passed  over  that  river  and  secured  by  tem- 
porary works.     On  the  night  of  June  17th,  the  lines  were 
manned  as  usual,  and  the  troops  led  out  of  quarters  and  biv- 
ouacked on  the  ground  beyond  the  built-up  parts  of  the  town. 
This  was  to  guard  against  the  plunder  or  incendiarism  of  a 
retreating  army,  and  to  avert  from  Philadelphia  the  calamity 
which  there  is  too  much  reason  to  suppose  was  unauthorisedly 
inflicted  in  1776,  by  some  of  our  troops,  as  they  evacuated 
New  York.     At  three  a.  m.,  on  the  19th,  the  army  marched 
across  the  commons  and  crossed  at  Gloucester  Point,  three 
miles  below  the  centre  of  the  city.     By  ten  a.  m.  the  rear- 
guard came  over,  and  the  march  for  New  York  began.    Lord 

*  Clinton  MS. 


EVACUATION  OF  mLADELrillA.  183 

iwo  day,  and  two  night,  ,»  Keedy  iZd  „„a  .v  ,    ^  T™ 

bulk  of  he  tones,  however,  went  with  the  arm7_«Id 
look  their  baggage  with  them,  which  was  ^^L',  ■ 
brance  during  the  n,arch.»»  2'""  "•'""- 

inJ^rhtd'theLtr  """if^  "'  "■»"'  '^•^  "=«'  "■"« 
town,  hid  themselves  in  cellars  and  such  places  and  r. 

".ained  behmd  and  the  deserters  ere  Clinton 'reached  Ne  J 
York  were  estimated  at  1000  •  but  n„rl,™„    .u, 
quit  Philadelphia  was  LoTLmo  GoIT  HelT  7.".'" 
quarters  all  night  and  so  late  the  next  day   tlm    h?  f      ," 

bunself  and  h>3  servant  over.    Two  hours  after  the  rear 
.he'lvaclr"sl:'' -t  "::'"  ""'  *'"'y  ■"-•■•S'=<'  "■"" 

Mculfes  of  the  retreat  were  only  begun.    Clinton  didl! 

*  CUnton  RfS. 


1191 


186 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


calculate  to  forajjo  on  hi 


journey,  and  the  quantities  of  stores 
ana  baggage  that  the  transports  could  not  receive  or   his 
ti-oops  could  not  dispense  with,  formed  a  lino  of  march  twelve 
miles  long.     He  anticipated  an  attack,  and  as  he  sat  on  a 
rock  and  reviewed  the  prolonged  train,  he  was  half-inclined 
to  destroy  all  his  incumbrances  on  the  spot.     But  this,  he 
thought,  would  bo  made  too  great  a  handle  for  triumph  to  his 
enemies  ;  so  he  manfully  resolved  to  confide  the  issue  to  the 
swords  of  his  followers  and  his  own  skill.     His  retreat,  neces- 
sari),  slow,  was  perfectly  deliberate  and  noUiing  resembling 
flight.     The  first  day's  march  was  but  five  miles  ;  and  though 
it  would  seem  as  clear  that  his  object  must  have  been  an  unin- 
terrupted  passage  as  that  ours  was  to  fall  on  his  cumbered  and 
attenuated  line,  the  Englishman,  by  our  best  American  judg- 
ment, rather  invited  a  general  action.     He  does  not  himseFf 
discountenance  this  idea.     "Perhaps  Washington  was  not 
quite  mistaken,"  says  he.     «  Perhaps  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was 
as  desirous  of  bringing  it  to  one  decisive  stroke,  as  Washing- 
ton  seemed  desirous  of  avoiding  it."*     He  likewise  kept  hU 
own  counsel,  and  not  until  June  24th  was  it  known,  even  to 
his  officers,  what  was  his  purposed  route  or  destination. 

During  May  and  June  our  army  at  Valley  Forge  had 

been  constantly  exercising  and  preparing  for  combal  on  a 

moment's  warning.    On  the  22nd  of  June  it  crossed  at  Cory 

ell's  Ferry  to  the  same  side  of  the  Delaware  with  Clinton. 

It  was  stripped  of  all  ineffective  and  heavy  baggage,  and  put 

into  trim  fighting  condition,  and  the  arras  were  carefully 

cleaned  and  inspected.      On  the  24th,  two  day's  provision 

was  cooked ;  and  on  the  27th,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  be 

provisioned  till  the  29th,  inclusive,  and  to  be  kept  compact 

and  ready  to  move  at  the  shortest  notice.     O''    -  -  r'?cputions 

were  taken:  — "The  drums  to  beat  on  the  7na rf.      When 

the  rear  is  to  come  up,  a  common  march ;   .i    .^jickon  the 

march,  a  grenadier's  march.    These  signals  to  begin  in  the 

rear  under  the  direction  of  the  brigadier  of  the  day,  and  are 

*  Clinton  MS. 


ntities  of  stores 
receive  or  his 
f  march  twelve 
IS  he  sat  on  a 
IS  half-inclined 
But  this,  he 
triumph  to  his 
>e  issue  to  the 
retreat,  neces- 
ng  resembling 
s ;  and  though 
been  an  unin- 
cumbered  and 
merican  judg- 
3  not  himself 
gton  was  not 
Y  Clinton  was 
,  as  Washing- 
wise  kept  his 
nown,  even  to 
ination. 
y  Forge  had 
combat  on  a 
ssed  at  Cory 
with  Clinton. 
;age,  and  put 
ere  carefully 
y's  provision 
rdered  to  be 
^ept  compact 
i*  procputions 
,rch.     "When 
ijljickon  the 
begin  in  the 
day,  and  are 


BIONMOUTH. 


-vUh  each  b„Hali„„  for  IN  ptl  t'"'"  T'f  ■""-'' 
i»  .0  halt  for  «.f„„„.,„,„,  ZZt,JT,^  P  "''"'",  "■"" 
boat,  and  iIm.,  ,o  be  rcpomcd  C  ,       *^""""''  "'" 

10  tho  rear."  •  ^    ^  ^^  ""'■>'  »"''"•'>'  <i™ni  ^„„„ 

tions  and  tire  circumstnnr.o=  ^e\u  ^      '^  ^""^  inclina- 

a.,  engage^en.  Z:!™     ^^ ^7.7:!'".;  '™''""'' 
our  advance  under  La  LVelte  at  but  fiv»     ■!  "•"'  "'"' 

•on  foresaw  ,he  eomin.  el„fl  e,     eI  1   '    '"""™'  ^''"■ 

-ion  be  pa.ed  „  ^^^^^  "tr^I^Z^iTZ  ^"^ 
mornrng  Knypbausen  was  on  bU  mareh  wUb  all  ,t 
and  a  large  par.  of  .he  ,roop,s,  ineludi„r L    ."'"  ""F?" 
a..d  Maryland  LoyalU...  „„i  Ls    „f   L      es'hr  T."': 
llie  march  should  have  bpi.n  c„   i         ""-  "<^s=]ans.     Iha. 

it  would  appear,  en.hX  due  ,o  c itlr."'"^  "'""''""''  "«»• 
Wraself  conLe  .he  eZr  of  1? '  7  ^""'•^  P""'''  "" 
operations  of  his  nfe,  "  ^s  "h  CM  ?  "  ""  "^'"'"""""^ 
blame  for  permitiinrr  it     ti  """  "^"'ain'y  <o 

He  lost  no.'a  r;  h'o;ever^l  f  "'""  "'  ""'"'"""''  '"'"^'• 

farbcLd!    wlflfl  '^ainder  of  our  people  no. 

leais  of  reflection  served  only  to  eonflrm  Clin- 

*  SIS.  Am   n   n    T r>»   - 


*  ilS.  Am.  0.  B.  June  27, 1778. 


t  Clinton  MS. 


S  ,  1 


I  11 


!"ii!|  urn 
I  ids 


188 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi, 


ton  in  his  original  opinion  that  the  real  aim  of  the  Americans 
was  against  his  baggage. —  "  Washington,  so  little  desirous 
does  he  seem  to  have  been  of  risking  a  general  action, 
had  passed  the  South  river  and  put  three  or  four  of  its 
marshy  boggy  branches  between  his  army  and  that  of  the 
British."  * 

It  is  not  proposed  here  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  the 
battle  of  Monmouth.  Its  story  has  been  often  and  well  told, 
and  the  circumstances  that  lend  it  a  peculiar  interest  as  lib- 
erally canvassed.  In  common  justice,  however,  to  the  rep- 
utation of  the  turbulent  and  irregular  Lee,  whose  prestige 
was  on  this  day  so  fatally  damaged,  I  must  acknowledge  that 
his  conduct  before  the  enemy  seems  to  me  to  have  been  un- 
worthy of  the  censure  it  received. 

The  flower  of  the  king's  soldiery,  it  will  be  recollected, 
rested  with  their  general  on  the  place  of  their  encampment 
till  the  day  was  weU  advanced,  and  Knyphausen  fairly  under 
way.     In  such  a  well-chosen  situation,  with  various  natural 
defences  or  impediments  intervening  between  himself  and  ou»- 
men,  it  was  entirely  impossible.  Sir  Henry  thought,  for  the 
Americans  to  gain  any  advantage  while  he  held  the  position: 
for  it  was  difficult  for  them  to  traverse  at  all  the  bad  ground 
to  reach  him  ;  and  the  ranks  would  necessarily  fall  into  such 
disorder  in  the  passage  as  to  easily  be  cut  down  as  fast  as 
they  appeared.     Not  far  away  were  the  Middletown  Hills, 
where  he  would  certainly  be  secure ;  and  it  was  evident, 
therefore,  he  must  be  attacked  now  or  never.     His  own  idea 
was  that  we  aimed  at  his  baggage  ;  and  accordingly  he  per- 
haps  resolved  to  give  us  such  a  handling  here  as  would  pre- 
vent any  large  bodies  being  thrown  forward  on  his  flanks. 
It  is  difficult  to  get  at  the  precise  numbers  of  either  army. 
Sir  Henry  loosely  estimated  his  opponents  at  near  20,000. 
Washington's  own  force  certainly  amounted  to  10,684  effec- 
tive rank  and  file,  exclusive  of  Maxwell's  brigade  and  per- 
hj.ps  of  Morgan's  regiment  of  GOO  men,  and  Cadwalader's 

*  Clinton  MS. 


I  %    f I 


BATTLE  OF  MONxMOUTII.  jgg 

400  continentals  and  100  volunteers.     If  these  anrl  n-  v 

13,000  orlVoOO Ten     L'i' '°'^',''''^'='«=''''S»i"^'  W- .0 
sen  at  daybreak  •  xxrUU  n  „.        ''o  o'^  unaer  Jlnyplmu- 

some  v^rv  ^„       ■"^'"'een  the  two  opposing  armies  stretched 

r,tu  ^/,  T""'  ^"""'^-  ^""'^  "dvance,  embarrassed 
by  .h.s  and  by  the  powerful  front  presented  by  the  reX  „! 
onemy  ,„,ek,y  fell  back,  pursued  i„  their  own    urn      Lef 

.ngton  and  the  resutnption  of  the  attack  ere  yet  the  enemv 

cons  dered  capital  errors  j  and  it  is  certainly  plain  that  o„r 

evoL     r/r™"""  '"^  "'"'^  "^y  '^ff^ted  Lthin!  tuch 
b  yond  what  Lee  might  have  done,  nor  succeeded  in'drhin! 

Sbr„n"- Sir  r"  '■"""  '"^  """'^  "^  '»"•'  -'■-''- 

nt  PWlaS!?  ^""T  '""^  ■"='"  "'••''^'•^^  "  ™''«*  "-  army 
«t  Philadelphia,  and  proceed  to  New  York.    For  various      ' 

:  rdlh"  r'""'  '°  '"^""^^  '"^  King's  commands,  aX 
at  disobedience  saved  both  army  and  navy.     The  Kinciple 

on'  avl;  lard"''  '"  '"'"^'  "'  ""'  P^""""     ^-W"g- 
a,  ant  gaarde  passes  to  marshy  bogsy  branches  nt  singTe 


.«ss^ 


190 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR^. 


bridges  and  attacks  the  British  rearguard ;  probably  with  no 
other  intent  than  to  amuse  while  another  corps  attempted  the 
baggage.     The  British  rearguard  forces  Lee  back  over  all 
these  branches  beyond  the  Lake.     Lee  is  met  by  Washinjr- 
ton  arriving  in  column  from  Englishtown.     Here  of  course 
the  busmess  would  have  finished  ;  but  the  ungovernable  im- 
petuosity  of  the  light  troops  had  drawn  them  over  the  moras., 
and  till  they  returned  it  became  necessary  to  mask  the  4th 
ravme  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  passing  it  and  cutting  rofFl 
the  above  corps ;  nnd  the  1st  Guards  and  33rd  regiment 
under  Col.  Meadows  and  Webster,  maintained  the  ground 
exposed  to  a  crossfire,  and  with  severe  loss,  till  the  hVht 
troops  had  retired  over  the  bog  in  safety.  .  .  .  The  great 
Frederick  on  hearing  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  account  of  this 
action  and  Lee's  defence  at  his  trial,  said  that  when  two 
opposite  gentlemen  agree  in  describing  the  ground  and  events 
ot  the  day,  they  must  both  be  right."  * 

The  heat  was  in  the  last  degree  oppressive.     Men  fell 
dead  m  the  ranks  without  a  wound ;  and  the  pantin^  Hes- 
sians  swore  that  in  such  an  atmosphere  they  would  fi^ht  no 
longer.     Night  at  last  brought  relief.     At  10  p.m.  Clinton 
arrayed  his  weary  bands,  and  led  them  to  where  Knyphausen 
was  halted,  three   miles   away  in  the   Nut   Swamp.     The 
moon  setting  on  that  night  at  10.55  p.  m.,  barely  sufficed 
o  light  his  path.     Our  army,  we  are  told,  was  unaware  of 
the  march  ;  but  it  is  probable  that  it  had  little  desire  of  re- 
newing  a  contest  in  which,  it  is  pretty  clear,  it  had  as  yet 
gained  no  solid  advantage.     For  whether  the  end  was  to  kill 
or  capture  Clinton's  troops,  or  to  get  possession  of  his  ba- 
gage,  we  were  successful  in  neither.     The  battle  was  at  molt 
a  drawn  one  ;  and  the  only  interruption  the  baggage  received" 
was  when  a  small  party  would  run  across  the^i^ad  between 
the   carts,   without    being  permitted  to  attempt  anything, 
n^re  was  no  attack  on  it,  and  it  had  no  losses  at  all.  '^ 
Ihe  merits,  however,  of  the  battle  of  Monmouth  were 

*  Clinton  MS. 


BATTLE  OF  MOXMOUTil.  ipj 

loudly  disputed  and  variously  canvassed.     There  were  not 

blood  between  the  two  jreneral^-  «n^  h,,f     t     ,  "" 

favor  was  made  in  the  earlier  orders  fiZ  U.i 

n.elet^oS"o"hi: tr™'t'-  '"«  ^■•-^  "P«" 

men  who  distinguished  themselves  uLT  "  ""'' 

such  others  who  by  their  3  „!,   ^  ,     '  °"="'™'  »"'' 

rhe  eve™,  detaehment,  except  those  under  Cul.  CL  'sli 
10  jom  heir  respective  brigades  immediately  "  ° 

On  the  other  hand,  Clinton's  course  was  freely  and  vari- 


PUT*  m^i  ( 

2iS' 


-j'i-^i^ 


I! 


^3 


mfi 


192 


LIFE  OF  MAJOll  ANDR£. 


ously  criticized.     On  the  motion  for  thanks  to  him  and  Corn- 
walhs,  Mr.  Coke  in  the  Commons  declared  that  the  whole 
march  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York  "was  universally 
allowed  to  be  the  finest  thing  performed  during  the  present 
war : "  while  the  Earl  of  Shelburne  characterized  it  as  the 
"  shameful    retreat  from    Philadelphia,  when   the   General 
escaped  with  his  whole  army,  rather  by  chance  and  the 
misconduct  of  the  enemy,  than  by  the  natural  ability  of  the 
force  under  his  command."     With  sounder  cause,  military 
critics  have  questioned  the  wisdom  of  the  British  course 
Why   when  a  safe  retreat  was  the  manifest  object,  should 
bir  Henry  have  avoided  the  shorter  route  by  the  Raritan 
and  taken  the  longer  road  to  Sandy  Hook?    This  question 
bir  Henry  himself  has  answered,  by  a  reference  to  the  position 
of  his  adversaries:-- "Gates  in  front  beyond  the  Raritan: 
Washington  in  the  rear  and  left  behind  the  Milestone  Creek 
with  the  Fords  of  Raritan  on  his  left  to  join  or  be  joined  by 
Gates."  *     Why  did  he  pause  for  two  days  at  Monmouth, 
when  Washington  was  closing  on  his  skirts,  and  his  para- 
mount  object  should  have  been  to  get  a  communication  with 
the  fleet  ?      "  No  military  man,"  quoth  Clinton  scornfully, 
"can  ask  this  question." f    And  to  Stedman's  recapitulation 
ot  the  dangerous  straits  to  which  his  army  would  have  been 
reduced  had  Washington  turned  either  of  the  British  flank. 
Sir   Henry  tranquilly  replies :   "  When   the  author  knows 
the  country  a  little  better,  and  possible  military  movements 
m   It  a  little   better,  this  question  may   be    answered."! 
From  the  various  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  particularly 
from  the  royal  commander's  evident  selection  of  the  position 
he  fought  in,  and  his  remaining  on  it  till  the  encounter  act- 
ually  occurred,  it  may  be  presumed  that  he  had,  or  thou-ht 
he  had  good  cause  to  expect  at  least  so  much  success  as\e 
experienced.      "Tell  General  Phillips,"  said  he  to  Major 
Clarke,  « that  on  that  day  I  fought  iipon  velvet:  he  will  fully 
understand  me."    For  my  own  part,  though  I  have  preferred 
*  Clinton  MS.  f  ibid.  j  jbia. 


i|!||.  %   nit 


A*   I 


hS?  <        a)^ 


D'ESTAING'3  AERIVAL.  jgg 

10  give  the  story  in  the  original  language  of  its  actors  I  „m 
unable  to  conjecture  the  reasons  wherefz^m  Clintontoived 
such  sanguine  anticipations  of  victory  in  pv„r„       .• 
That  he  should  have  exnecte,!  .1.  .    ^  contingency. 

hi»  baggage  by  just  suTrch  ^Th  tr"™'"!'  "' 
plausible  enough;  but  that  his  :X^ 2:^17,^:^:1 
their  equan.m.ty  under  the  very  probable  event  Zts-e^ 
"7."=8'=^'^'  ■»  ■>»'  «»  n,y  comprehension  so  phi„      plf 

Once  among  the  Middletown  Hill,  thn  Fn„r  i 

^fr."^:  t:  ^'"--  ■^^''^^^^^x 

was  easy  the  baggage  was  transported,  by  aid  of  the  fleer 
over  a  bridge  of  boats ,  and  after  delaying  a  litUe  in  hone  'f 
encounterino-  our  nrmv    iU^        ^    /.    .    °  °P^  ®' 

lowed  to  Sta°tenIslaT  "'  °'  "'°  ™'''"^'^  '■°-«  «"■ 

J:i!:i\!f,:t  "z'ZeT-  '"r  ""^^^  ^""^ "" 

VMnia  coast     Rn/f  "' '  """  "??'='"'■'='>  »»  "'o 

hav^folrn  „efvetir"vet"r:i"'Bf™^''^  "  ""'"'■' 
informed  writers  reckon  tint  Tn  '^^'^^r''  """J  "«"- 
Plook  would  have  preveld  I'- ^'"'■'f''  """"^  "'  ^^ndy 
.elf  was  of  diSo;  ntn  "X'  ""^^■".=-,  »«  <"«.- 
-ieet  had  been  laying^  s  ndy  hI  SirTci  r""' 
-ndingwith  galhes'and  gun-Lt  h^  t ne^'cSlT'eruH 

twelve  shins  of  ll,.  Ii„„    •     r  ■  ^  Jislamg  with 

choredwihouftleHlokr  •?""''  ""''  ***»»  "^P^' ^"- 

-erior,  pisttrbut'^rs^irofr  !•:  ra 

a  vast  number  of  tran^^rt  2W  r"f  T  ""  """  "^ 
forward  ic  „„„  'ransports  .  2000  naval  volunteers  pressed 
lorward  to  engage  ,„  ,he  expected  action,  of  whom  at  least 

*  Clinton  MS. 


194 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


,11 


1000  were  accepted;   and  the  anger  and  indignation  that 
pervaded  all  ranks  amply  supplied  any  deficiencies  of  his 
muster-rolls.     Mates  and   masters  of  merchantmen  sought 
places  at  the  guns  among  the  common  sailors ;  and  it  is  highly 
probable  that  had  D'Estaing  got  over  the  bar  and  into  the 
harbor,  he  never  would  have  got  out  again  in  command  of 
his  own  ships.     But  there  was  not  water,  he  thought,  for  hia 
larger  vessels ;  and  in  the  moment  when,  by  favorable  con- 
juncture of  wind  and  tide,  the  whole  British  population  were 
agog  in  anticipation  of  attack,  he  put  up  his  helm  and  by 
preconcerted  arrangement  with  Washington  bore  away  for 
Rhode  Island.     Scarcely  was  he  out  of  sight,  however,  when 
sail  after  sail  of  Byron's  command  came  dropping  in,  shat- 
tered and  weather-beaten  ;  all  of  which  must  have  fallen  into 
his  hands  but  for  his  withdrawal.     With  these,  though  still 
inferior  to  the  French,  Howe  sailed  to  find  them. 

Meantime  Sullivan,  Greene,  and  Lafayette,  with  10,000 
men,  were   assembled  against  Pigot,  well  entrenched  with 
6000  at  Newport.     On  D'Estaing's  arrival  success  seemed 
certain ;  and  the  militia  of  Massachusetts,  led  by  Hancock 
in  person,  pleased  themselves  with  the  idea  of  at  last  get- 
ting rid  of  so  abhorred  and  dangerous  a  neighbor.     But  dis- 
sensions  sprung    up  between   the   French  and   American 
leaders,  in  which  the  former  were  chiefly  to  blame.     Howe's 
fleet  appeared;  D'Estaing  stood  out  with  the  weathergage 
to  fight  him  ;  a  storm  sprung  up,  and  the  French  only  reap- 
peared at  Newport  to  notify  their  intention  of  proceeding 
forthwith  to  refit  at  Boston.     The  remonstrances  and  the 
anger  of  our  generals  were  equally  vain.     D'Estaing  went 
away,  and  the  siege  was  abandoned.      Clinton,  who  had 
sailed  with  4000  men  to  relieve  Pigot,  no  sooner  knew  the 
French  fleet  to  be  gone,  than  he  endeavored  either  to  inter- 
cept Sullivan's  retreat,  or  to  find  means  to  fall  upon  Provi- 
dence.    Grey's  division  was  with  him ;  and  when  he  found 
it  impossible  to  carry  out  his  original  ideas  he  dispatched  this 
oificer  against  New  Bedford,  — one  of  the  chief  among  the 


ANDBIS'S  VERSES  ON  THE  INVESTMENT  OF  NEWPOKT.   195 
mmor  seaports  that  lined  the  New  England  coast       „n,I 
wroug...  infinite  „,,ehief  ,0  British  eo.^Ce     O   "t^;  5  h 
September    at  five  r.  „.,  Grey  anehored  in  Clark's  Cove 
and  at  s,x  debarking  with  very  slight  loss,  he  rava.^erthe 
Acnstae  E.ver  or  six  miles.    The  fort  wjs  dismanUed  and 
burned  us  guns  demolished,  and  its  magazine  blown  "p    „^ 
wards  of  seventy  sail  of  privatee,.  and  their  pri.es  eoZmed  • 
and  numbers  of  buildings  eontaining  very  4at  nuZillToV 
..ores  reduced  ,„  ashes.    From  5u.za'rt%  B„Tl,e  «:  s:d 
trough  the  baffling  tides  of  Quiek's  Hole  (whifh  „  nTeTer 
be  lorgolten  by  any  one  who  has  ever  sailed  over  them    L 

0  :      WO^'oT"''  T:  ""  '--0  » -'Hbution  of  300 
oxen,  10,000  sheep,  all  the  arms  of  the  militia,  and  £1000 
.n  paper-money,  being  the  sum  of  the  public  funds  on  hand 
lakmg  or  destroying  what  vessels  he  found  the,^.  Grey  re 
u  ned  from  the  island  to  New  York.     His  este  m  for  II 
a.de,  however,  and  his  desire  to  leave  him,  at  his  own  an 
proaclung  withd.wa.  from  America,  on  the  be  t  poLI 
footmg  at  head-qoarters,  probably  induced   the  genCl  ,o 
«nd  by  his  hands  in  the  first  instance  a  very  briff  acTou  I 
of  h,s  domgs  to  Clinton.     "I  write  in  haste,"  he  says  "and 

Til  "t  "f  '  '"?-'■"-«-'  beg  leave' to  refj^ouf^r 
h.  late  plan  of  operations  and  particulars  to  Captain  indr^  ■> 
ri.  value  of  such  language,  repeated  ft^m  the  eommandl 
."-olnef  to  the  minister  at  London,  and  reiterated  in  throfflcW 
gazettes  «.„  readily  be  appreciated  by  all  military  menT  I 
ZZf^TJ'::'  unemployed  hours  of  his  voyage  to  New 
York  that  Andr^  found  leisure  to  commemorate  the  fi,.t  frul^ 
of  the  French  Alliance  in  these  lines  :  _ 

VANKEE  DOODLE'S  EXPEDITION  TO  lillODE  ISLAND. 

Erom  Lewis  Monsieur  Gerard  came 
To  Congress  in  this  town,  Sir; 

to  U,!''j^"°l'' r""  '"■^'-  ""^  ""'  "'°  ■""»''  ""■"''•  •'  """''"'I  I"  by  Germain 
to  the  Koyal  Commissioners,  411i  November   1778  as  Iho  »l./.„j     i , 

«ccu,ed  expedition  under  G,;y.-tej"  5.  "l43«!  °°''  """' 


l«Mll 


=;» 


19C  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 

Tlicy  bow'd  to  hint,  and  he  to  them, 
And  tlien  tliey  all  sat  down.  Sir. 

Chorus :  Yankee  Doodle,  &c. 

Bcgar,  said  Monsieur,  one  grand  coup 
You  shall  bkn(6t  behold,  Sir. 

This  was  believed  as  Gospel  true, 
And  Jonathan /eft  bold,  Sir. 

So  Yankee  Doodle  did  forget 
The  sound  of  British  drum,  Sir; 

How  oft  it  made  him  quake  and  sweat 
In  spite  of  Yankee  rum,  Sir. 

He  took  his  wallet  on  his  back, 
His  rifle  on  his  shoulder, 

And  veow'd  Rhode-Island  to  attack 
Before  he  was  much  older. 


In  dread  array  their  tatter'd  crew 
Advanc'd  with  colours  spread.  Sir; 

Their  fifes  played  Yankee  Doodle  doo. 
King  Hancock  at  their  head,  Sir. 

What  numbers  bravely  cross'd  the  seas 

I  cannot  well  determine ; 
A  swarm  of  Rebels  and  of  fleas 

And  every  other  vermin. 

Their  mighty  hearts  might  shrink,  they  tho't; 

For  all  flesh  only  grass  is ; 
A  plenteous  store  they  therefore  brought 

Of  whisky  and  molasses. 

They  swore  they'd  make  bold  Pigot  squeak, 

So  did  their  good  Ally,  Sir, 
And  take  him  prisoner  in  a  week ; 

But  that  was  all  my  eye.  Sir. 

As  Jonathan  so  much  desir'd 

To  shine  in  martial  story, 
D'Estaing  \iii\x  politesse  retir'd 

To  leave  him  all  the  glory. 

He  left  him  what  was  better  yet; 
At  least  it  was  more  use,  Sir: 


HIS  PnOMOTlON.-SIR  CHARLES  GREY 


197 


He  left  him  for  a  quick -retreat 
A  veiy  good  excuse,  Sir. 

To  stay,  unless  he  rul'd  the  sea 

He  thought  would  not  be  right,  Sir; 
And  continental  troops,  said  he, 

On  islands  should  not  fight,  Sir. 

Another  cause  with  these  combin'd 

1 0  throw  him  in  the  dumps.  Sir : 
I'or  C hnton's  name  alarm'd  his  mind 

And  made  him  stir  his  stumps.  Sir. 

•      Smg  Yankee  Doodle  Doodle  doo,  &c.* 

While  D'Estainnr,  under  oovpl  r.p  f      -j  , , 

repairing  his  fleet,  Concrress  nn^  w    t  •  ^  ^  "^'  ^^^ 

;o  alia,  .be  ^^^^  i^XZZtZTr^ZfZ::!  ''"'7 
ii«  withdrawal  from  NewDort     Th!.  Til  ™™  ""y 

fling  .he  a„g^  .o„g  Js  o7  peltl'XT*'  V" 
tiie  popalace  were  slill  inflamed  •  and  !!»";  l^  ^  """  "'^ 
in  Boston,  some  of  the  Frenchmen  were    "       '"T""«  "^ 

'-TX«2:torr;V"F^^^^^^^^^^ 

«000  .r«>p.  ^o  aceomp;;  Lc^'notrf  'r^'^  """ 
tempt  a  landing  on  Point  Alder^n,  ^  "  ^"y-  •"  «'■ 
10  attaelc  or  destroy  tteht       '  '"  ^-^eavor  from  thence 

D'&.ain.'s  fleet    or  b'Lr  ""  ""'  "■''""''^  '^""^"■■•g 
=    fleet ,  or,  by  se.z.ng  Boston,  deprive  that  fleet  of 

P««  rclaM  Gerard-,  rl  en,  „n  W  r„  """'  "  "'"«''  "'«  A"""™  P«- 
'»es  were  originally  pS£  to  hi!  r*''  ?"''  '"  ""'  '""nectJon,  S,e 
«prlnW  here  tki  S  let  i^"!  h  p™"'" '' ^^''P'""-  ^bey 
'tash  it  doe,  not  name  the  alt?  'f.'''™«'°"'»  f"ct,  1780;  rtiel^ 
-  one  by  h«  friend  «»d  luerTrv  ;  ^''^S/ n  "  t"'.'"'  ."^  ^"O":- 
>l»o  points  to  Andr^  as  the  writer.  '"'"■"''  «i<lence 


198 


I.IFK  OF  MAJUK  ANDK£. 


its  necessary  supplier,  and  force  it  to  quit  its  position.  Lord 
H.  seemed  at  first  to  relish  the  proposal,  but  afterwards 
declined  it,  for  reasons  I  am  persuaded  the  best,  tho'  ho 
never  communicated  them  to  me.  From  what  I  have  heard 
since,  I  really  believe  we  could  have  succeeded.  D'Estain;; 
had  only  eleven,  and  Lord  Howe  twenty-one  sail  of  the  line."  • 
The  fact  is,  that  the  Admiral  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
go  home  as  soon  as  the  fleet  was  stronger  than  D'Estaing's. 
On  the  2Gth  of  September,  "  Black  Dick,"  as  he  was  called, 
left  the  coast,  with  the  regret  of  all  who  had  served  under 
him.  His  successor,  the  inefficient  Gambier,  held  command 
to  the  following  March,  when  he  was  removed,  wrote  a  loy- 
alist, "  to  the  universal  joy  of  all  ranks  and  conditions.  I 
believe  no  person  was  ever  more  detested  by  navy,  army, 
and  citizen,  than  this  penurious  old  reptile."  In  later  years 
he  brought  shame  on  the  service  at  the  Basque  Roads,  and 
became  in  Hood's  satire  the  great  Gambogee  of  the  Hum- 
Fum  Society. 

Andre's  next  active   service  was  when  Clinton   pushed 
heavy  foraging  detachments  up  the  North  River,  and  de- 
stroyed the  privateers  of  Egg  Harbor.     Lest  his  aim  might 
be  the  Highlands,  troops  were  so  posted  by  "Washington  as 
to  interrupt  and  discover  such  a  movement.     Of  these  was 
Baylor's  regiment  of  dragoons  which,  on  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, was  quartered  at  Taapan  or  Herringtown,  a  small 
hamlet  on  the  Hackensack  River.    Against  these  Grey  so 
skilfully  led  a  night-attack,  that  the  Americans  had  no  op- 
portunity of  saving  themselves,  but  by  dispersion  and  flight. 
In  affairs  of  this  nature,  it  is  not  the  custom  of  war  to  loso 
time  in  receiving  and  disarming  prisoners,  and  sending  them 
to  the  rear ;  nevertheless,  "  the  whole  of  the  fourth  troop," 
says  Marshall,  "  were  spared  by  one  of  Grey's  captains, 
whose  humanity  was  superior  to  his  obedience  to  orders." 
We  may  well  suppose  that  this  captain  was  the  general's 
aide.     Among  the  Americans  who  fell  was  Major  Clougli, 

*  Clinton  MS. 


'ihP' 


r  ',p 


ANDRli'S  PKOMOTION.  jgg 

mile  else  lh,m  «  „„3sacre  •    A  li„f  •'™'>""e«<l  «» 

;-".  E„g„„a  h„,  ^.eTe,  cfoCtr  2k;:„f;  ■""" 

but  their  arrival  had  been  so  delayed  bv  »     -,  °""' 

channel  island  of  Jersey   Umt  ,7„  ^        ""*""'  '"  ""> 

."uch  use  in  this  campal'n  f  '  """  '""  "'"'  '»  "«  »' 

^o^^'::o^at:^':.\T  t-'"'  "-  "^^■■"-•-  The 

wi.l.  so  y„*We  nTffle  '  t™  '  7  ''"'  "'"'"""  '»  "-' 
'■■ouble  of  an  arran  Jl„T'h  >  L  f""^"""  "«'"'  «»  "'« 
with  Clinton,  m  l^h  intirH'f  '^  'j'"'"  ^''"  ^ »■•" 
was  ordered  to  Canada  A  f .'"%''™"'"  ""'  »  «»?""•». 
10  continue  in  AmencTwi^  ?'"  f  ""^  ""■'  '''"'=''  ™^ 
*«uld  lake  ins^rdTf'h  t  ^  .?'"'  "  ™'  ■'^"'«"'  """  ^^ 
pan.  in  .h^  ^^^^J'^Z.^'J^r'- 

"'t-s'wrero^;e-:^;r:rr^^^^^ 

■he  aniount  of  £1300  or  £200n  ^"^/"'f^  "»  ■•<'''•«<'>>)  lo 

cated  captaincy  in  the  sLhanHK-  kV"''"^  ^^  "">  ™- 
o/^.u     ,       .    ^        ^  ^*^"»  ^"a  Ills  brother  fnnlr  fi^o*  •    xl 

26lh  choosing  ,0  go  to  England  .^.her   h^  cl  ja     7 
niso  leaving  this  country,  Andre  ..i,i> ...  •    .         ^'"^ 

«Jor,  was  appointed  a^'  i"e    „  rHrnrcLf  ™"r  "' 

6       nor  01  JNevv  York,  who  was  second  son  of  the 

Miinot  be  introduced  here  ilkw'     ■  t  ""P"""""'  that  savor  of  hi,  style 


^i  ! 


200 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDIlt. 


4     ■ 


:;fe» 


i**j 


ninth  EnrI  of  Lincoln.     Tho  Clintons  camo  from  Gcoflfivy 
de  Clinton,  the  builder  of  Kenilwortli,  who,  though  a  iiovus 
homo  in  1129,  was  tho  father  of  princely  lines.     In  tho  old 
days,  when  baronies  were  held  by  tenure  and  not  by  writ,  it 
may  bo  supposed  that  tho  Clintons  were  not  a  house  of  the 
first  magnitude,  since  they  do  not  appear  among  tho  twenty- 
five  great  guardians  of  Magna  Charta,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  thirteenth  century :  not  an  unlucky  circumstance  for  them 
in  the  end,  as  not  a  male  descendant  of  the  "  Iron  Barons  " 
is   a  peer  to-tlay.      In  person,   Sir   Henry  was  short  and 
stout,  with  a  full  face   and  prominent  nose :    his  manners 
reserved,  and  though  polite,  not  popular  with  the  world  at 
large.     He  lad  long  been  accustomed  to  arms  in  the  best 
practical  schools  of  Europe ;  and  Prince  Ferdinand  bore  very 
honorable  testimony  to  his  capacity.     At  Bunker  Hill,  with- 
out waiting  for  orders,  he  flew  to  lead  the  reinforcements 
for  Howo  which  were  wavering  in  uncertainty  whither  to 
march ;  and  was  of  essential  service.     These  officers,  who 
"  never  differed  in  one  jot  of  military  sentiment"  at  this  pe- 
riod, became  afterwards  rivals  and  foes.     He  was  regarded 
by  many,  however,  as  more  conspicuous  for  honesty,  zeal,  and 
courage,  than  for  military  genius.     It  was  complained  that 
he  never  knew  when  to  strike.     In  our  army,  a  plan  for  his 
seizure  was  canvassed    and  abandoned  on  the  ground  that 
his  measure  was  exactly  ascertained,  and  any  change  in  the 
command  would  be  for  the  worse.    "  I  should  be  very  sorry," 
wrote  Livingston  at  the  time  of  Cornwallis's  fall,  "  to  have 
Clinton  recalled  through  any  national   resentment  against 
him,  because,  as  fertile  as  that  country  is  in  the  production 
of  blockheads,  I  think  they  cannot  easily  send  us  a  greater 
blunderbuss,  unless  peradventure  it  should   please  his  maj- 
esty himself  to  do  us  the  honour  of  a  visit."     He  was  ac- 
cused, and  not  without  appearance  of  reason,  of  an  habitual 
indecision,  that  in  a  man  vested  with  a  great  public  trust 
often  approaches  imbecility.     An  instance  of  this  trait  oc- 
curred when  he  suffered  the  American  and  French  armies  to 


from  GcoflTroy 
loiigli  u  novvs 
3.     In  tlio  old 
not  by  writ,  it 
i  house  of  tho 
g  the  twenty- 
beginning  of 
tunce  for  them 
Iron  Barons  " 
m»  short  and 
his  manners 
the  world  at 
13  in  the  best 
land  bore  very 
;er  Hill,  with- 
reinforcements 
ty  whither  to 
officers,  who 
it "  at  this  pe- 
was  regarded 
esty,  zeal,  and 
mplained  that 
a  plan  for  his 
3  ground  that 
shange  in  the 
e  very  sorry," 
fall,  "  to  have 
ment  against 
be  production 
us  a  greater 
3ase  his  maj- 
He  was  ac- 
f  an  habitual 
t  public  trust 
this  trait  oc- 
nch  armies  to 


ClIAIUCTER  OP  SIR  HENKY  fUNTON.  201 

rmn  to  the  cause  of  tho  crown      A     „1  "'"""'""S  »»" 

lucky  cl,„„co  to  strike  at  tl.e  c,.e..,v  Wmse^'  ,  V  f'"** 
"s  once  plain  tl.at  ll,c  allies  weredoL  tdvl  .  v"  ™  " 
it  was  folly  not  to  Bi.„,I  i„  ,     ,,'^  "'""'"' ^''•«i"i". 

c:..s„peak^, ::;;::  'zzCnn '  '*' '-  •"" 

"Mliief  to  consider  ,^LZl  '  '"''  »  ••'•""■""ndcr- 

»l.en  great  srt;e~  c~7^  r'"  '""""'''-' 
li«d  a  landed  estate  too  i„  A    """'"'"''■•    ""  ^i^oras  to  liave 

Il.avcontlns  sut'°teo  stsI'T'  '"'•""  "'"  '""""'""""^ 
f»  confiscation  ot'  v,  i?  ,„  ' '  :V""'r  "'  "'°  ■""-- 
Cornwallis  in  1780.  ^^''"'"'"'  "'""'lisl'e.l  by 

evcn'rlrorteTt^rMmi;";  '1"k  "'  "'^'""'y-  "— ot 
Fovcd  byi^'o  ™"L!^l    V^""  represented  to  and  ap- 

«.a.e  was  ^IS  cd  and    oMttl"'  """  "  "''^"'-   "^ 
where." •  '  ""''  ^  """  S«'  "edress  no- 

»J^:i'*™":rtx:h:t7eLr^rr' ™- 
=ri-etrX„St  o^Vi^r"^^^^^^^^^^ 

friend  of  Sheffield      iT^-  I      ^''''""'""^  "'«  confidential 

ta-  13th,  17  r  The  s^ht  off  7""^  "'  *'"'™'"'^'  "«-»■ 
bo'h  array  and  navv  n  M  ™"""  P"™"""''!  tbrougU 

10  get  at'^rrealT.  "„  iTc!?  ""'"^  "  "■""™^'  '"'»-" 
from  America  Is  1       ,  m  '"  ""'''  »"'*  '"^  retirement 

.umill:!!  ""  "  ''■"°™'-     H"^  '■"■'  ""'ices  such  a 

eton,  t„r  H.  C.  takes  leave  to  repeat  what  the  King  was 
IQ  *  Clinton  MS. 


"'^t^AMta 


v>gBi'uiiimiW«Pif>ii*nPiiS 


202 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


^1 


\i 


pleased  to  say  tr  him  at  the  first  audience  he  was  called  to 
after  his  return  from  America.  —  'I  always  wished  to  see 
'you,  Sir  Henry,  in  the  command  of  my  armies  in  America: 
'  but  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  was  so  exceedingly  pressing  for 
'  your  return  that  I  was  obliged  at  last  to  acquiesce.'  —  Sir 
H.  Clinton  had  asked  three  times  every  year  to  have  leave  to 
resign  tlie  command,  but  his  majesty  would  never  before  con- 
sent." * 

Both  armies  going  into  winter-quarters,  little  more  oc- 
curred in  this  year  of  an  active  nature  for  Andre  to  bear 
part  in.  The  French  fleet  was  in  the  West  Indies,  where 
Byron  was  vainly  endeavoring  to  inveigle  it  to  action  ;  and 
the  loyalists  in  New  York  were  in  constant  hope  of  D'Es- 
tain/s  destruction,  and  a  consequent  withdrawal  of  his  court 
from  the  quarrel.  "  D'Estaing's  blockade  by  Byron  at  Mar- 
tinique —  one  of  the  most  fortunate  events  of  the  war  — • 
must  revive  the  spirits  of  the  most  drooping  Tory  in  Phil- 
adelphia. The  game  is  in  our  own  hands,  and  we  may 
expect  to  hear  next  of  the  taking  of  D'Estaing.  A  treaty 
between  England  and  France  follows  of  course ;  and  we 
must  then  shed  tears  of  pity  for  poor  America,  laid  in  ruins 
to  gratify  the  fatal  ambition  of  a  few  artful  men."  f 

But  the  usual  luck  of  "  the  hardy  Byron  "  of  the  poet  — 
more  appropriately  known  as  Foul-weather  Jack  by  his 
sailors  —  did  not  desert  him.  D'Estaing  was  not  taken; 
and  all  the  tears  tory  eyes  could  command  were  in  the 
end  wanted  for  their  own  misfortunes.  Of  as  little  real 
importance,  (considering  that  one  of  its  heroes  afterwards 
eat  in  judgment  on  the  author's  life,)  was  the  following 
squib,  published  by  Andre  in  Rivington's  Gazette.  It  is  a 
perfectly  fair  paraphrase,  so  far  as  details  are  concerned,  of 
the  pompous  account  of  a  duel  between  Lieutenant-governor 
Gadsden  of  Carolina,  and  Major-general  Howe  of  our  army, 
provoked  by  the  former's  published  letter  reflecting  injuri- 
ously upon  his  opponent's   military  conduct.     As  Gadsden] 

*  Clinton  MS.  \  Loyalist  MS.  New  York,  1778. 


he  was  called  to 
i  wished  to  see 
ies  in  America : 
gly  pressing  for 
jquiesce.' —  Sir 
to  have  leave  to 
jver  before  con- 
little  more  oc- 
Andre  to  bear 
t  Indies,  where 
to  action ;  and 
hope  of  D'Es- 
val  of  his  court 
Byron  at  Mar- 
of  the  war  — 
J  Tory  in  Phil- 
,  and  we  may 
ling.  A  treaty 
)urse ;  and  we 
3a,  laid  in  ruins 
en."  t 

of  the  poet  — 
'  Jack  by  his 
'as  not  taken; 
id  were  in  the 
f  as  little  real 
foes  afterwards 

the  following 
izette.  It  is  a 
B  concerned,  of 
enant-governor 
'e  of  our  army, 
iflecting  injuri- 

As  Gadsden 

iw  York,  1778. 


ANDM'S  VEESES  UPON  AN  AJIEfilCAN  DUEL.      203 
was  not  in  Ilowe'q  lin^  ^e  ^^^  • 

nor  aHog  JZ  hria„™T:r'  T',,"""'''  "«'■""='•  '''''^ 
U.e  consequent  duerHlTlf,;"  "'""'  P"'**^"" '  ""<»  i" 
after  «hi!h  an  h„„„™bl    e'      T'''  '"^  ""'"'"""'^''^  »« 

.roductory  Imes  are  of  course  a  mere  blind :!!  °  '"" 

ON  THE  AE.A.R  BETWEEN  T,^  KEBEL    GENERALS  HOWE 

AND  GADDESDEN. 

We  are  favored  with  iho  f  ii    ^"^^'''^«^«^^^.  »•  C,  Sept.  1st,  1778. 
honour,  which  happer^l'^fj^^^^^^^^  the  atTa.  of 

the  hour  appointed  for  Generals  H  and  P  1  '  I  ^'^''^"  '"'^'"'^  "^^ 
minutes  before  eleven  -but  hold  it  is  tnn 'i?  T  1  '*'='=«''<i'""gly,  about  ten 
prose.  ''*'''^'  '*  '^  *««  good  a  story  to  be  told  in  simple 

It  was  on  Mr.  Percy's  land 

At  Squire  Rugeley's  comer, 
Great  H.  and  G.  met,  sword  in  hand, 

Upon  a  point  of  honour. 

CViom:  Yankee  Doodle,  doodle  doo,&c. 

G.  went  before,  with  Colonel  E., 

logether  in  a  carriage; 
On  horseback  followed  H.  and  P. 

As  if  to  steal  a  marriage. 

On  chosen  ground  they  now  alight. 
For  battle  duly  harnessed; 

A  shady  place,  and  out  of  sight- 
It  shew'd  they  were  in  earnest. 

They  met,  and  in  the  usual  way 

With  hat  in  hand  saluted; 
Which  was,  no  doubt,  to  shew  how  they 

Like  gentlemen  disputed. 

And  then  they  both  together  made 
i  Ins  honest  declaration  -. 


!'-'   f 


iii 


201 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 

That  they  came  there,  by  honour  led, 
And  not  by  inclination. 

That  if  tliey  fought,  'twas  not  because 
Of  rancour,  spite,  or  passion : 

But  only  to  obey  the  laws 
Of  custom  and  the  fashion. 

The  pistols,  then,  before  their  eyes 
Were  fairly  primed  and  loaded; 

H.  wished,  and  so  did  G.  likewise, 
The  custom  were  exploded. 

But,  as  they  now  had  gone  so  far 

In  such  a  bloody  business, 
For  action  straight  they  both  prepare 

With  mutual  forgiveness. 

But  lest  their  courage  should  exceed 

The  bounds  of  moderation. 
Between  the  seconds  'twas  agreed 

To  fix  them  each  a  station. 


•  iri 


'  1: 


The  distance,  stepp'd  by  Colonel  P., 

Was  only  eight  short  paces ; 
"Now,  gentlemen,"  says  Colonel  E., 

"  Be  sure  to  keep  your  places." 

Quoth  H.  to  G.,  — "  Sir,  please  to  fire;»» 
Quoth  G.,  —  "  No,  pray  begin.  Sir: " 

And  truly,  we  must  needs  admire 
The  temper  they  were  in.  Sir. 

"  We'll  fire  both  at  once,"  said  H.; 

And  so  they  both  presented ; 
No  answer  was  returned  by  G., 

But  silence,  Sir,  consented. 

They  paused  awhile,  these  gallant  foes, 

By  turns,  politely  grinning ; 
'Till,  after  many  cons  and  jsj'os, 

H.  made  a  brisk  beginning. 

H.  missed  his  mark,  but  not  his  aim; 

The  shot  was  well  directed. 
It  saved  them  both  from  hurt  and  shanie; 

What  more  could  be  expected  ? 


ANDRfi.s  VERSES  UPOl.  AN  AMERICAN  DUEL. 

But  hated  jars  and  jangles, 
Hjs  pistol  fired  across  his  arm: 
From  H.,  almost  at  angles. 

H.no,v  was  called  upon  by  G. 
lo  fire  another  shot,  Sin 

-No,  truly  I  cannot,  Sir." 

Such  honour  did  they  both  display 
They  highly  were  commended  : 

And  thus,  in  short,  this  gallant  fray 
Without  mischance  was  ended. 

No  fresh  dispute,  we  may  suppose, 

Will  e'er  by  them  be  started; 
And  now  the  chiefs,  no  longer  foes, 
Shook  hands,  and  so  they  parted. 

Clu>rm:  Yankee  Doodle,  doodle  doo,  &c 

them  the  most  withering  a  "fm  ""^f  ^^,  ^-<^[^ -- with 
retort  in  kind  hardly  so  'atefur*  ^'"^TT  '^'^  "^^'  « 
air  when  he  set  out  for  W     '  '^ '  '^'"™^  ^^«*  this 

repeated  it  when  Z  at  st^ |t  LTd'a t^^ ^  ""^''^'"^"^ 
idea  was  not  new.      Whl  r  grounded  at  Saratoga.     The 

against  Charles  Edwarft  "  Z  1  f  """'  ''"  ^^^^ 
the  Scots  with  the  aii  -1  '"='''  "  ^^^^  ^'^^"S  *«  ""^"It 

"Will  you  play  me  fair  play, 
Bonnie  laddie.  Highland  laddie?" 


205 


le; 


IftJ 


CHAPTER  XI. 

New  York  in  1778.  -Andre's  Political  Essay.  -His  Favor  with  Clinton.  - 
Receives  the  Surrender  of  Fort  La  Fayette.  —  Letter  to  Mrs.  Arnold. - 
Commencement  of  Arnold's  Intrigue.  —  Appointed  Deputy  Adjutant- 
General.  —  Siege  of  Charleston — Letter  to  Savannah.  —  Accused  of 
entering  Charleston  as  a  Spy. 

The  city  of  New  York,  for  the  rest  of  the  war  the  British 
head-quarters,  was  far  in  1778-9  from  its  present  metropoll- 
tan  condition.     Though  about  a  mile  in  length,  by  half  a 
mile  in  width,  it  was  inferior  in  population  and  in  impor- 
tance  to  Philadelphia.     Its  narrow,  clean,  and  well-paved 
streets  were  lined  with  neatly-built  houses  of  wood  or  brick, 
and  these  for  convenience  of  the  harbor  being  chiefly  clus- 
tered along  the  East  River,  were  thus  subjected  to  difficulties 
in  the  supply  of  fresh  water.     The  ruin  caused  by  the  con- 
flagration of  1776  yet  subsisted,  and  in  The  Burnt  District 
the  blackened  skeletons  of  500  dwellings  stretched  along 
Broadway,  from  Whitehall  Slip  up  to  Rector  Street.     To 
this  devastation  was  added  that  of  the  fire  which  broke  out 
at  one  a.  m.  on  the  10th  of  August,  1778,  and  consumed  300 
houses.  The  best  people  then  lived  in  Wall  or  Pearl  streets; 
and  to  arrive  at  the  present  abodes  of  fashion,  one  must  have 
ridden  through  several  miles  of  country.     Ponds,  hills,  and 
open  fields  extended  where  now  is  nothing  but  leagues  of 
stone  walls  and  solid  pavements;  and  the  mutilated%tatues 
of  Chatham  and  King  George  bore  public  witness  to  the  civic 
discord  that  had  brought  them  from  their  high  estate.     But 
no  dilapidation  deprived  the  English  soldier  for  the  first  time 
entering  the  port,  of  "  the  most  beautiful  scene  that  could  be 
imagined."     On  the  one  hand  were  spread  the  fertile  shores 
of  Long  Island,  abounding  in  game,  studded  with  country- 


#lij 


NEW  YORK  IN  1778.  207 

po.verf„ni,fe,tl"ltn       /,'"°*^'''''="  ■'y  "^''-ordered  and 
Llhnd      r„   r         ""^  ""=  '""'s'"^  »""»  ""'""ded  across 

Hill      Tl.o        ,^  ''",^^  ^'t^i  tJieir  guns  the  steeps  of  Lpurel 
naraijr  capable  of  being  preserved  in  a  serious  in- 


liit 


-^ 


Is:B' 


208 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


m 


vestment  of  the  place.    A  regiment  held  the  post  where  Pau- 
lus  Hook  stretches  out  from  the  Jersey  shore  into  the  North 
Iliver.    Formidable  works  were  erected  at  Brooklyn  Heights 
on  that  part  of  Long  Island  opposite  to  the  city.     The  New 
Fort  here  would  accommodate  1000  or  1500  men.     Brook- 
lyn itself  was  then  a  small,  scattered  village,  with  a  capital 
tavern  famous  for  its  fish-dinners,  which  the  royal  otiicers 
were  accustomed  to  consume  to  an  extent  that  soon  made  a 
rich  man  of  the  landlord.     These  fish-loving  gentry  relate  in 
melancholy  wise  the  deprivation  that  fell  upon  the  town  by 
reason  of  the  war.     They  tell  that  New  York  had  long  been 
dependent  on  the  eastern  coasts  for  its  lobsters  till  a  well-boat 
was  shattered  in  Hell-Gate,  and  the  escaping  prey  populated 
the  neighboring  depths.     Here  they  flourished  in  cold  and  in 
boiling  water  until  the  tremendous  cannonading  of  the  Lonr^ 
Island  battle  disturbed  their  retreats ;  they  passed  away,  and 
their  accustomed  haunts  knew  them  no  more.    It  was  througli 
this  same  whirlpool  of  Hell-Gate  that  Sir  James  Wallace, 
pursued  by  a  French  fleet  into  the  eastern  end  of  Long  Island 
Sound,  steered  the  Experiment  in  1777.     The  passage  was 
daring  and  perilous ;  but  he  brought  her  safely  through.    On 
Staten  Island  too  Clinton  had  strong  posts  with  1000  or  1500 
men ;  and  here  Andr(5,  with  other  young  officers,  was  in  the 
habit  of  visiting   Simcoe's   quarters,  where  the   landlord's 
pretty  daughter  bloomed  in   rustic  seclusion  and  tempted 
many  a  gallant  across  the  waters  and  the  hills. 

If  the  population  of  New  York  was  lessened  by  the  mi- 
gration of  its  whigs,  it  was  abundantly  recruited  by  the  in- 
coming troops  and  tories.  It  was  well  understood  that 
Ministers  were  for  manifold  reasons  resolved  to  hold  out 
longer  here  than  in  any  other  place ;  and  though  many  of 
the  loyalists,  "  once  lords  of  thousands,"  now  languished  in 
comparative  destitution  at  London,  there  were  throngs  at 
New  York  to  supply  their  absence.  Nor  was  involuntary 
increase  wanting. 

"Our  little  half-demolished  town  here  seems  crowded  to 


iiiilii!|i  {| 


09t  where  Pau- 

into  the  North 
aoklyn  Heights 
ty.     The  New 

men.     Brook- 
with  a  capital 
3  royal  officers 
;  soon  made  a 
;entry  relate  in 
1  the  town  by 
had  long  been 
till  a  well-boat 
prey  populated 
in  cold  and  in 
g  of  the  Long 
sed  away,  and 
It  was  through 
imes  Wallace, 
af  Long  Island 
e  passage  was 

through.    On 

1000  or  1500 

rs,  was  in  the 

the   landlord's 

and  tempted 
Us. 

ed  by  the  mi- 
ed  by  the  in- 
derstood  that 
i  to  hold  out 
ugh  many  of 
languished  in 
re  throngs  at 
s  involuntary 

IS  crowded  to 


NEW  YORK  IN  1778.  209 

i=r,1^s,'-^  -"■•  '-»-•  --- vt^;; 

Tu^-     .  ^^y  *°  ^^^^  English  as  Philadelnhi« 

The  r  stage  was  „.ised  at  the  John  Strel  Theatre,  wUh  W 

ine  artillery  for  principal  tragedian.      Colonel   Frenol. 
was  the  low^comedy  „a„,  and  A^ndr^,  Stanley  Do  Wy 

were  assigned  o  the  youngest  ensigns;  and  Maebeth,  Kich 

Theh!«i.  ^'""^  Stratagem,  „ere  ventured  npon. 

The  bottle  was  not  negleeted:  hard  drinking  prevailedTnd 
.was  a  point  of  social  honor  to  press  the  ghssVprguests 
and  during  morning  ,i,i^  ""=  P^eh-bowlwas  MycSu.' 
lated  and  healths  drank  by  the  ladies      riin.n„>r      ? 
were  at.  Nn  1    R„  j  ■;  '"""es.     Ulinton  s  quarters 

!„^F    7  ;  ^""■""""^  '"'"^«  «  the  corner  of  52nd  Street 
!  Sl^r"''  ""^'^  '"  ""=■»  ™"«  "« -=««« ;  and  e  ery 

*i:s  :r  stT^  """-^ '™°  ™'»"-'  '""*  - 

New  York  Th,  T"-  ™'  """""'^  '"S^y  ^ite  in 
dosLlhr  ■?  r'^""  '""^""'^'^  by  Admiral  Digby  of 
closing  the  windows  for  a  half-past  four  o'clock  dinner^ly, 

*  Loyal  MS. 


210 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


and  dining  by  candle-light,  was  as  novel  to  tiie  American 
stranger  as  the  religious  exactitude  witli  which,  through  rain 
or  snow,  the  New  Year's  calls  were  paid.  At  Philadelphia, 
after  the  evacuation,  the  loyal  young  people  seem  to  have 
formed  a  sort  of  coterie  of  their  own,  that  made  it  easy  for 
their  scrupulous  parents  to  keep  away  "  the  lively  French 
and  the  gallant  Continentals";  but  in  New  York,  with  half- 
a-dozen  admirers  to  every  handsome  girl,  such  care  was  hope- 
less. "  You  cannot  imagine  what  a  superfluity  of  danglers 
there  is  here  ;  so  that  a  lady  has  only  to  look  over  a  list  of  a 
dozen  or  two  when  she  is  going  to  walk,  or  to  dance,  or  to 
sleigh."  The  tory  manuscript  from  which  I  quote  gives 
animated  sketches  of  *^  .  city  belles  of  this  day. 

"Of  those  I  mentic  3d  to  you  before,  Miss  T — —  is 
said  to  be  the  greatest  beauty :  tall,  genteel,  graceful  in  her 
motions,  with  fine,  light  hair,  dark  speaking  eyes,  a  complex- 
ion superior  to  the  boasted  one  of  Miss  K .  She  sel- 
dom fails  to  captivate  those  who  see  her ;  but  to  me  she  wants 
the  greatest  of  female  charms :  she  wants  sensibility  of  fea- 
tures. Her  sister  less  celebrateii  is  more  pleasing:  neither 
so  tall,  so  fair,  nor  so  regularly  featured,  I  would  sooner, 
were  I  to  offer  my  hand  to  a  lady's  person,  make  choice 

of  Miss  Betsy  T than  her  sister,  who  I  ought  to  have 

called  Mrs.  B . 

"  Miss  L ,  the  sentimental  Miss  L ,  is  tall  and  deli- 
cate, features  not  regular,  eyes  not  lively.  There  is  a  modest 
dignity  in  her  appearance  that  no  one  could  offend  —  it  is  the 
dignity  of  true  unaffected  iuaocence  and  simplicity. 

"  Mrs.  F 's  person  resembles  N P 's:  of  course 

good,  but  she  is  not  that  beauty  I  expected  to  have  found. 
Her  complexion  is  pale,  her  hair  the  colour  of  Juliet's.  She 
appears  delicate  and  languishing,  and  she  has  the  misfortune 
of  having  a  fine  face  ruined  by  a  very  bad  mouth,  wide  and 
unexpressive.  ...  I  cannot  pretend  to  do  justice  to  the  Miss 
M s  :  —  Mild,  delicate,,  thoughtful,  there  is  an  air  of  pen- 
sive languor  and  unaffected  modesty  over  the  whole  appear. 


iliiiir- 


the  American 


NEW  YOKK   IN    1778.  gll 

pleases  ,l.o  more  for  bei„.      o  „„!'  Z  ^''""''''  "'" 

a  pair  of  eye,  ,l,„.  ca„„„t%  Lr^e  "el"'"'"";  ""''  "j"' 
wl.iel.  say  ever,U™„  ,„„t  the  1  ,  ses  ""'7'";  '"! 
open  and  ingenuous  _  clieeks  (In.  1,P„    '"-'""  —  "  ""-"I'cad 

^o«es.  .in.s  of  u,e  .se,  an:t^r:tr;;":^::'r:; 

the  graees-joiued  to  a„  abundance  of  darkl  t    "  i, 
diice      liiif  Q,... .         .1  ^'"^^  *^ver  ab  e  to  pro- 

itrsM."  I'drii;;  rnr^r';-  r*  «"-■- 

of  cheerfulness    th-it  .. W    '  '''"  ^  P^'"^  ^'''-^^  ^^'^ 

»^o.y  .i.at  wi:vrse:5z'  ::^  t;;r:o::  -t: 

more  diffleult  isTto  de  11  ,  "  '""'"''"  '*"«''''' ''  ^tiU 
.aeefuiness  have'  t^l::^:;::^:'^^^'"'  '"" 
raised  in  thee  a  vain  idea!    Eyes  arl t„  m,!      ^'^i^'' 

just  come  to  town  anrl  I,pn  r.       .  ^'     ^"®  ^^'^^ 

of  sixteen  could  „;  he  s    1      ,tV''T''''""""  """  "  ""■' 
of  allurements,  gua  ded  he  C    tt     ™?  '"  "  "'"'"'  ^°  *'"" 

of  an  otHcr -ircrdieir^rn::^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

nage  was  effected,  and  Mrs  C  S       >''^'^^'°"  '^  ™ai- 

consenting  to  ther^-;;^',^  ZJ^^^  ^^^^^t '  t 
70U  have  done  in  sueh  a  ease  ?  •  I  asked  a  pll-coated  rn^d 


212 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


!iiiiipii>  ill' 


*  Done  '  —  replica  the  benevolent  Chrlstiiin  —  *  I  would  have 
cast  her  ofl'  to  the  contempt  and  beggary  she  deserved ! ' 
'  But  could  you  forget  she  was  your  child  ? '  ^  <  Yes,  I  would 
tear  the  remembrance  of  her  from  my  bosom  ! ' 

"  —  We  have  lately  had  one  admitted  into  that  mysterious 

order :  a  Miss  P .     Yet  she  would  not  be  affronted  with 

the  a:  it  was  Miss  P celebrated  for  her  beauty,  wit 

and  accomplishments  ;  indeed  so  immensely  sensible,  that  he' 
was  thought  a  bold  officer  who  ventured  on  her.  It  was  the 
Hon.  Capt.  Smith,  eldest  son  of  Lord  Strangford  of  Ireland. 
All  the  observations  made  upon  her  since  are  that  her  eyes 

are  brighter  than  ever.     A  pretty  Miss  G of  the  age  of 

fourteen,  finding  marriages  so  very  fashionable  and  thinkin- 
them  very  clever,  eloped  with  a  Hessian  officer  for  want  of  a 
better.  Father  and  mother  as  usual  inconsolable  and  inex- 
orable: *  Parents  have  iiinty  hearts,  you  know,  and  children 
must  be  wretched.' " 

Under  the  influences  that  then  prevailed  in  New  York  it 
was  fashionable  to  be  loyal ;  and  in  such  social  assemblies  as 
pretended  to  a  tone  of  literary  cultivation  we  can  easily  con- 
ceive that  Andrd  would  not  fail  to  put  forth  what  power  of 
mtellectual  entertainment  he  possessed.    Indeed,  his  pen  was 
probably  rarely  idle  ;  and  though  it  is  not  practicable  to  trace 
with  certainty  his  political  essays,  I  have  no  doubt  that  he 
was  a  constant  contributor  to  the  pages  of  Rivington's  Ga- 
zette.    Fortunately  we  are  able  to  identify  at  least  one  of 
these  papers,  from  which  a  fair  idea  of  his  manner  may  be 
mferred.     At  the  mansion  of  Mr.  Deane  he  is  related  to 
have  won  the  praises  of  both  sexes  by  an  extempore  upon 
Love  and  Fashion,  which  he  delivered  on  the  evenin-  of 
January  6tli,  1779  ;  nor  was  a  Political  Dream,  that  he°also 
read  aloud  on  the  same  occasion,  less  applauded.   It  was  print- 
ed m  Rivington's  newspaper  shortly  afterwards  ;  and  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  author  was  anything  but  sparing  in  his  censure 
of  those  Americans  who  were  signalized  by  severity  against 
the  tones.    Chief-justice  McKean,  who  presided  at  the  con- 


-  *  I  would  have 
she  deserved ! ' 

- '  Yes,  I  would 

I' 

that  mysterious 
e  affronted  witli 
ler  beauty,  wit, 
ensiblc,  that  he 
ler.  It  was  the 
ford  of  Ireland. 
e  that  her  eyes 

—  of  the  age  of 
le  and  thinkin"- 
jr  for  want  of  a 
lable  and  inex- 
*v,  and  children 

1  New  York  it 
1  assemblies  as 
can  easily  con- 
kvhat  power  of 
3d,  his  pen  was 
ticable  to  trace 
doubt  that  he 
ivington's  Ga- 
b  least  one  of 
anner  may  bo 
is  related  to 
tempore  upon 
le  evening  of 
n,  that  he  also 
It  was  print- 
and  it  will  be 
in  his  censure 
verity  against 
id  at  the  con- 


"v 


ANDKfi.s  POLITICAL  KSSAV.  213 

^^r^'^Xr!::'7'  f wo  Philadelphia  loyalists; 
and  the  supportfrrof  ou ''  '"^'*'"'"^'^  ^^^  °^  ^^'^ism, 

..le  co.pis::  id^:i;f!;r  1!!;  -  ^^ 

A    DREAM. 

in  the  East,  to  Vvthf^J...  •    ..  "'®  l^rachmans 

l=™.  How  it  «.a.  possible  ,„  aJ"Z  1' '  ""T"',  '^'■ 
graded  tliemsclvcs  from  ti.„  i  ,  7  '"  """'''ind  do- 
beo.,.e  proper  ZtZy'l:^':Zf':^'r'  "f"'-  " 
beasts  to  whose  ra-one,-L<,  ,l  "'"''^  "^  "'»"» 

On  t,.e  o,„erX:pTe:^:^  v^fitTreeTh?  "T'T'"""- 
i'^  several  stages,  „„d  .o°beh  Id  °  r  "vt^'roT  T"',' 
record  ng  to  its  desert,  in  a  „ew  state  oestc^etf 
fanciful  observations  immediately  occurred  tT^  ^ 

Besides  several  nair  of  t„Ml„  ,^  "'"='"  ^^  '»  'he  company, 
one  or  two  buttSies  t  tlvT^;:;-"''  ^""'""^ -"" 
ances,  we  were  lerl  fn  fob  "°"°  "^"^  acquaint- 

MJ^e^tertrd'lre^w^tHLT^^^^^ 

XIV.  transmigrated  into  a  bolf  ^^        i' •    ,  ^^"'^ 

man,  who,  from  the  most  humble  of  bia  =in.,  yencn- 

...emas.r  and  tormentor  of  tb-'lblitf^^^^^^ 

^ny  ot  bees.    The  poetical  soul  of  Sappho  con- 


'"31! 


'  t 


*?#  ?    j 


214 


LIFK  OF  MAJOR  ANDRA. 


tinucd  to  warble  in  the  elmrncter  of  the  «  Love-loin  Night- 
ingale,"  and  that  of  our  countryman  Pope  (into  which  those 
o  Homer,  Horace,  Juvenal,  and  Lucretius  had  been  before 
blended  and  transfused)  waa  again  revived  and  admired  in 
the  melodious  Swan  of  Twickenham. 

"  Full  of  the  ideas  which  this  singular  conversation  had 
suggested,  I  retired  to  my  chamber,  and  had  not  long  pressed 
the  downy  pillow  before  the  following  vision  appeared  to  my 
imagination :  —  "^ 

"I  fancied  myself  in  a  spacious  apartment,  which  I  soon 
discovered  to  be  the  hall  wherein  the  infernal  judges  admin- 
istercd  justice  to  the  souls  which  had  animated  the  bodies  of 
men  in  the  superior  regions.     To  my  great  surprise,  instead 
ot  those  grim  personages  which  I  had  been  taught  to  expect, 
1  found  the  judges  (who  were  then  sitting)  to  be  of  a  mild' 
gentle,  and  complacent  appearance,  unlike  many  dispensers 
of  justict;  in  the  vital  air,  who  add  terror  to  severity,  and  by 
their  very  aspect  not  only  awe  the  guilty,  but  discourage  the 
mnocent.     At  one  end  of  the  table,  after  a  short  interval 
appeared  a  numerous  crowd  of  various  shades,  ushered  in 
and  conducted  by  Mercury,  whose  business  it  was  to  take 
charge  of  the  criminals  and  see  the  sentences  executed.     As 
dreams  are  of  an  unaccountable  nature,  it  will  not  (I  presume) 
be  thought  strange  that  I  should  behold  upon  this  occasion 
he  shades  of  many  men  who,  for  aught  I  know,  may  be  still 
living  and  acting  a  conspicuous  part  upon  the  worldly  theatre. 
But  let  this  be  as  it  will,  I  shall  go  on  to  relate  simply  what 
appeared  to  me,  without  troubling  myself  whether  it  may 
meet  with  credit  from  others. 

"The  first  person  called  upon  was  the  famous  Chief-justice 
McKean,  who  I  found  had  been  animated  by  the  same  spirit 
which  formerly  possessed  the  memorable  Jeffries.  I  could 
not  but  observe  a  flash  of  indignation  in  the  eyes  of  the 
judges  upon  the  approach  of  this  culprit.  His  more  than 
savage  cruelty,  his  horrid  disregard  to  the  many  oaths  of 
allegiance  he  had  taken,  and  the  vile  sacrifice  he  had  made 


ANDHIis  POLITICAL  ESSAV.  215 

of  justico  to  the  interests  nf  t-^u^w 

™"J-.ncd  .„  a,,,u,„c'.,r   '    „  tfT  b"  tr'*""-.    ""  "■"' 

sidcraiion  of  the  manv  r   V  """""'™  '  >""  '"  <=o.,. 

(by  direction  of  ti.e  1"    ..  IV     °''.  '''='"^""'°"'  ''»"""e'l 
"«t  i.  big  with  venom  'ad  tatTv'""  f'!"  - '•"""•' 

tequently  ,„™  ,„  i^  „„„  de.,r„Z  '  """  ••™"" 

«*::  Xt-if  ;xz;r »- ""  '^^  --, 

Jor  and  iniqui  y,  ias  l^d!"  ■  ."""''^  "P"*'  »f  ""•■- 
"■»lf>  «nd  l\et,rwi: tZt  1  r  '"  ."■"  "^y  of  a 
gaunt,  hollo,.,  and  feroeiou,  T  ''"""'"'=''  ""=  '"•"<' 

sUll  continued  to  be  rrfT^."''''"'™T'  """'  "«"  ''"  '""S-e 
™'y  touched  me  with  h"  ^T  /"''"'  'his  time.  Me,- 
insight  into  fut™ritrle„  T  '.T''  "'"^'■^  ""''""'^'J  »- 
"'e  door  of  his  ?oW  bv  ,  "^  TV"'  """^  *""'  '»-g  «P  at 
l«ea  from  time  to  lo  thi„„?d  /  .r''"''  '"""'''•"  "^^  '-0 
ravage  animal.  ""^  ''^  """  '""■•''<'""S  Jaw^  of  thi. 

"The  President  of  the  Con"re«  Jfr  T,„ 

"  "'■'  i"'- Jay,  next  appeared 


216 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDR£. 


liNutt 


before  the  tribunal,  and  his  trial  was  conducted  with  all  the 
solemnity  due  to  so  distinguished  a  character.    I  heard,  with 
emotions  of  astonishment  and  concern,  that  in  various  human 
forms  he  had  been  remarkable  for  a  mixture  of  the  lowest 
cunnmg  and  most  unfeeling  barbarity ;  that  having,  in  his 
last  shape,  received  from  nature  such  abilities  as  mi<>ht  have 
rendered  him  useful  in  his  profession,  and  even  serviceable 
to  the  public,  he  had,  by  a  semblance  of  virtue,  acquired  the 
confidence  of  his  feUow-citizens,  which  he  afterwards  abused 
to  all  the  horrid  purposes  of  the  most  wanton  rebellion,  and 
that  being  indefatigable  in  the  pursuits  of  ambition  and 
avarice,  by  all  the  ways  of  intrigue,  perfidy,  and  dissimula- 
tion,  he  had  acquired  the  station  of  a  chief  justice,  and,  in 
imitation  of  the  infamous  Dudley,  had  framed  and  enforced 
statutes  that  destroyed  every  species  of  private  security  and 
repose.     In  fine,  that  by  his  whole  conduct  he  had  exempli- 
fied  his  own  maxim  that  princes  were  not  the  worst  and  most 
dreadful  of  tyrants,*  and  had  given  a  fresh  demonstration 
that  power  could  never  be  well  used  when  lodged  in  mean 
and  improper  hands. 

"  The  court  immediately  thought  fit  to  order  that  Ibis 
crimmal  should  transmigrate  into  the  most  insidious  and 
most  hateful  of  animals,  a  snake ;  but  to  prevent  his  bein- 
able  any  longer  to  deceive,  and  thereby  destroy,  a  large  set 
of  rattles  was  affixed  to  his  tail,  that  it  might  warn  mankind 
to  shun  so  poisonous  a  being. 

"The  whole  Continental  Army  now  passed  in  review  be- 
fore me.  They  were  forced  to  put  on  the  shape  of  the  timid 
hare,  whose  disposition  they  already  possessed.  With  ears 
erect,  they  seemed  watching  the  first  approach  of  danger,  and 
ready  to  fly  even  at  the  approach  of  it.  But  what  was  very 
singular,  a  brass  collar  was  affixed  to  the  neck  of  one  of  their 
leaders,  on  which  I  saw  distinctly  the  following  lines :  — 
'  They  win  the  fight,  that  win  the  race.' 

*  See  a  pamphlet  called  (I  think)  The  Nature  and  Extent  of  Parliamen- 
tary  Power  considered. 


ANDR£.s  FAVOR  WITH  CLINTON. 


tent  of  Parliamet' 


217 

into  a  gan,c.ccK=k,  who  at  once  bet„  ,  "  '"^  ^•, '™""^™«' 
-  if  he  was  „edimti„g  a  combat  L^  "."''  ''""  "■»"' 
ofa  few  cropple  crowned  h™.^\,-.'""  ""  "PPeonmce 
I  could  ,ee  hTm  atTme  dt "  '''/'™'^"=<'  W'  Purpose,  and 
wing,  and  rnsl!  hTfeat  r/™""  "^  ■""''  ''"■'""S  »■« 
company.  The  <Sdi,v  rf^v.  "^^  ^"""^  ^'"•"«'  i"  "'« 
cumL'ces  at  e„ll^-t"ex  ;: '7  °™"'T'  ""  "' "■«  -" 
laugh,  tha,  I  immeto tely  awat.^l"''  ■"""  "  ''"'"^'"™  '» 

™t  thn^  ^e'trirf  r  "-"""<'  <=■■■"-'-  >"^^  -» 

won  the  adn,ira,"  n  of  Twho  h  ^7"  "'  ^'™'°"'»  ^'««''  »"-» 
He  would  prompllfo  J'" '"''  '^7'^  "'"^  ""^  «»-«'• 
engage  in  th'eir  aw"™  h  dl;;;^^":-  °''  ""'  "^  '»»"' 
ways  pohte  and  satisfactory  ,f  f  '  '  ''""°"'  '""''^  "'■ 
was  sure  of  an  answe7from 'sfr  H  """'""if'  ""  "PP"''''"' 
l«rs.     Clinton's  confil  """^  "'"•'"  'wenty-four 

"70,  hy  hi,  a^iZ"er:?rdr«rr'.-""  ""^  ^p^^-^-  -^ 

of  the  Guatds  as  commi  ^nt^tr  r?""'!^*^'  "^''« 
icans  an  exchange  of  p„Ws     Ir-'S"'""*  »■""  "'e  Amor- 

Davies  and  Robm  H  Z"  ^^  ""'  '^'''°"''*  ■*^""»'» 

".e  ^2.h  May,  aL  L^    Tt  .r^SM  If  f"  ^r""''  "" 
to  agree  upon  terms      Th.  a        •  "  ^  ^''"'^^^^«  ^^ort 

Piace  that  Clin.„:r;,e.^;LXre:s  ttt  "•"  '^f  •"•^' 
manent  cartel  >vere  insufficient      H  7       .  .  ^'"^'^^  P^"" 

they  perceived  a  design  trrcleth:?^^  ?"'/"'''^  ^'^"°^^ 
in  their  commission  tha/l^T.       I      '"Production  of  terms 

America,  and  Zd t  th  f  g^d^^  f  ^"^^^-^-^  ^r 
was  then  considered-  hn/i        ^  "^  P"*^'^"^  exchange 

.;i„gnp„„i':ra;d'':n''  rx"  "^T"'  "™\''^'» 

Ikc  difference  between  the  valu°e  „r Th  ■         ^T™"' ''"''" 

*-.^  were  ™„„i„:  ^i^^.^roTr  tiSyn": 


218 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


would  at  least  serve  out  the  war;  and  no  terras  were  pro- 
posed  by  either  side  that  the  other  would  accept.     The  busi- 
ness thus  ended,  Clinton  determined  to  open  the  campaign 
of  1779  with  a  blow  at  the  posts  on  Verplanck's  and  Stony 
Pomts,  which  commanded  King's  Forry  and  the  opening 
passes  to  the  highlands.     Every  step  taken  at  New  York 
was  promptly  communicated  to  Washington  by  his  efficient 
spies  in  that  city ;  and  he  had  good  cause  to  think  the  heavy 
forces  now  moving  were  not  to  be  confined  in  their  opera- 
tions  to  the  mere  reduction  of  these  works,  but  were  ulti- 
mately designed  to  take  ground   that  would  interrupt  his 
communications  and  divide  his  army.     "  Washington  had  his 
cattle  from  the  Eastern  provinces,"  said  Clinton  in  re^mrd  to 
the  campaign  of  1777,  "and  his  corn  from  the  Western. 
Could  we  have  taken  a  position  on  either  of  these  communi- 
cations  we  might  have  risked  an  action  or  retired."  *     If  he 
now  aimed  at  West  Point,  however,  he  was  fated  to  be 
thwarted  by  the  active  providence  of  his  enemies. 

On  the  31st  May,  Clinton  debarked  a  little  below  Haver- 
straw,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  and  approached 
Stony  Point.     As  he  drew  near.  Collier  with  the  Vulture 
and  other  light  war-ships  came  also  in  sight,  and  the  unfin- 
ished  works  were  with  hardly  a  show  of  opposition  aban- 
doned by  the  Americans.     Guns  were  at  once  haled  up  by 
the  British,  and  a  fire  opened  upon  Fort  La  Fayette  on  Ver- 
planck's,  against  which  Vaughan  had  led  a  column  on  the 
eastern  shore.     During  the  night,  the  Vulture  and  a  galley 
anchored  above  the  fort,  and  so  cut  oiF  a  retreat  by  water. 
On  the  following  day,  unable  to  return  a  fire  equal  to  what 
they  received,  the  little  garrison  beat  a  chamade.     The  bat- 
teries were  stilled,  and  Andrc^  was  dispatched  to  receive  the 
surrender. 

"  On  the  Glacis  of  Fort  Fayette,  June,  1st,  1779. 
"  His  Excellency  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Commodore  Sir 
George  Collier  grant  to  the  garrison  of  Fort  La  Fayette 

*  Clinton  MS. 


i ' 


yi'i 


SUBRENDER  OF  FORT  LA  FAYETTE. 


219 

John  AndrA,  Aid^le-Camp."  * 

"  '»  sa'd,  was  so  relaxed  in  the  kin«'!  „  '^  !"  °''<='P''n«. 
trusted  the  password  to  .  T  ,  ^  "'^'  """  '«''=«"  ™- 
with  fruit.  HavZ  thus  aT  7""",  """^  '"PP"^"  "«>■» 
counfy  round  bein»  wL M't'  T'  ""  "'^  ""'^  '"  "'« 
barking  should  betray  h  ,    °  ''''>' /"•<>"-»■'.  lest  their 

vanced?  The  outer  L.l-  ""'™'"™'^'  ^"yne  silenlljr  ad- 
and  after  a  sha^  nf  ^  ^Ir^r  """  ^'"'^ 
and  over  500  priLers  taken  Th!'  JT  "''  '""""^ 
affair  whieh  wi  j„stly  e;>ta;red  o^'  oT'thf  ''"^  "'  ^" 
things  in  the  war,  were  ,?l  Z    T         *^  ""^'  S""""' 

"-ke-    Ciro„n,s,a„Ilre"eme7thr'r -^"'"^  "^  '"« 
Fayette.  Stonv  P„i„,  ^^'^^''"'f  "■«  reduction  of  Fort  La 

•.4er  garSnt"  t^  t^"^'' '  ""'^  ""  «'•'««"  P-  » 

42 1  "^  Th?f  Tr"'>"  ^""'°"  '»"  "»  other 

carried  on  vigoro^;  an?lnl^Tr  "''''''  ^"^^  "«» 
of  the  pen.    To  h  Y"  .        "'!  '""""^  "'">  <=>•'«%  those 

'^e  wifr  o.  GeniirizH  r:r  rSe^-!!-  -- 

*  This  transaction  was  ridiculp.?  h,r  «„  a 
Kingston)  in  the  New  Jet:;  Gaz^L    s^thT"  T-t"  ^^^''"•P^  «<>- 
Howe  could  not  have  invested  this  instji^onn.?*  ^'^^'    "  ^''  W^"'"*-" 
ng  formality.    No  display  of  osteSati.ri  ^  '''"  ""'^^  '"^''^  »"™ean. 

t.«  occasion;  and  Mr\I^l^;tTaT^^^^^^^  '^'^  --^""'^^^  on 

of  h:s  General,  signed  a  cap  tulition  'ir   „  i    k        P'""'*' ^^''^  **»«  *««'« 
solemnity  on  the  very  edge  of  he  il   '        l   .'''  P^'"^*  "^  *  vain-glorious 
of  a  flag.    What,  Si'r  Sy  c  '  dtu'^int' h'  f '^  '".'  ^""^'^  --^^  -ve 
-  Will  a  person  of  Mr.  A^r^^'l-  ^^  ^t  tl^^ta^??  -" 


220 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR6. 


"  Head-Quarters,  New  York,  the  16th  Aug.  1779. 
"Madame.  —Major  Giles  is  so  good  as  to  take  charge  of 
this  letter,  which  is  meant  to  solicit  your  remembrance^  and 
to  assure  you  that  my  respect  for  you,  and  the  fair  circle  in 
which  I  had  the  honour  of  becoming  acquainted  with  you, 
remains  unimpaired  by  distance  or  political  broils.     It  would 
make  me  very  happy  to  become  useful  to  you  here.     You 
know  the  Mesquianza  made  me  a  complete  milliner.     Should 
you  not  have  received  supplies  for  your  fullest  equipment 
from  that  department,  I  shall  be  glad  to  enter  into  the  whole 
detail  of  cap-wire,  needles,  gauze,  &c.,  and,  to  the  best  of  ray 
abilities,  render  you  in  these  trifles  services  from  which  I 
hope  you  would  infer  a  zeal  to  be  further  employed.     I  be" 
you  would  present  my  best  respects  to  your  sisters,  to  the 
Miss  Chews,  and  to  Mrs.  Shippen  and  Mrs.  Chew.     I  have 
the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  regard.  Madam,  your 
most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

"John  Andre." 

In  March  or  April  of  this  year  General  Arnold,  com- 
manding  at  Philadelphia,  had,  under  the  feigned  name  of 
.  Gustavus,  began  a  secret  correspondence  with  Clinton ;  who 
committed  the  matter  to  the  hands  of  Andre.     The  latter 
wrote  over  the  signature  of  John  Anderson  ;  and  was  replied 
to  as  «  Mr.  John  Anderson,  Merchant,  to  the  care  of  James 
Usborn,  to  be  left  at  the  Reverend  Mr.  Odell's,  New  York" 
Though  at  the  outset  the  English  had  no  clue  to  their  cor- 
respondent's  identity,  the  character  and  value  of  his  informa- 
tions soon  led  them  to  suspect  it;  and  it  is  supposed  by  some 
that  this  letter  to  Mrs.  Arnold  was  written  with  the  view  of 
making  clear  to  her  husband  the  character  of  its  author,  and 
to  invite  a  return  of  confidence.     This  may  possibly  have 
been  the  case ;  but  all  ray  investigations  show  that  the  lady 
had  not  any  suspicion  of  the  dealings  between  the  parties,  or 
was  ever  intrusted  by  either  side  with  tJie  least  knowled-re 
of  what  was  going  on.     Equally  false,  in  my  judgment,  Is 


HN  Andre." 


COMMENCEMENT  OF  ABNOLM  mTWGUE  221 

contradiction  of  this  «,n„.?       .u         °'  '*''  "«'g'>'  '•>  ">« 

*%  coneeJea  •;  .r/rCo l'":,""?  "^.'f-"^  of  "« 
crime.  "'^tovery  and  punishment  of  the 

significant  ••;  thon.hThe^  is  1         '"="'  "  """'"•'"'^  «■"» 

f-  as  Mrs.  Arnoif  :L"rce:  Jr,il"it'f  ™  """'  ^" 
ilie  one  just  nrinterl     T„      7       .  "  ""^^  "Exceeded 

or  require     ThT    ,■         ^    °'"'  """"^  «">«  to  suaeest 
of  Monk,  and  „. led  Li    W       '"'"  "  ™"*"°»  "-e  exat^ple 

..bstanti;,  basirrri^„rp;;~:  ^'-r.^- »- 

America,  the  power  of  Vn^u  I  *f  ""*^^-     The  distresses  of 

to  a  w  ^^it^^::^f "  ^'''^'' 

instead  of  tlie  old  cnloni.i  .  i,  .  "'"'"W  drawn  ;  and 
.l.at  .1,0  continental  aS  of  irTJ'  "'  "^  ™'»"'"^'' 
committed  to  a  nurelv  mf      i  ""^  f'""«<^^  should  be 

ish  parliament!  SCMbi"""""  """"'"'  ">«  J^"'" 

.Ja.  indissoiuU,  -^-ufd^  e^rtre^airo^ '''r 
of  commerce  anrl  r.f  «,  ♦    i  •  cnams  of  equahty, 

peacef„,.,;rn:[ther,;r''"'"-"' '"» '--^^  ^'-^ 

lainglad  captured  Gt-anZ  5        ^'         ^"  '''''^'  ^^'^^ 

family  estate  was  inmedThV!        "'/'''"''  """^''  <"'  ">« 
were  so  severe  «,  rZ        /'"' '"■""'  "'^"'^^  '»  Macartney 

principles  ;f7;sUceTha°'th'""'^  "''""■""'  ""O  "'^ 

ferredsubmittlnga'dt'lt/o?.";'''''  '"'"•'"''"''  P-- 
laing  showed  little  len^r  T,;  ^  '"=  Po'^^^^'*.  D'Es- 

abused  to  an  extent  tbf     ^'"^ /?P''  ""«  Plnndered  and 

-tdistin^ird  sX':r:h?Frf  h^"""' ''"""'-""' 

tavene  at  the  head  Z\     "'^^™*  <»mmand-to  in- 
head  of  h,s  regnnent  for  their  protection. 

•  See  Appendix  No.  I. 


222 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDE6. 


♦S;; 


This  course,  in  such  direct  contrast  to  that  of  De  Bouillc  in 
like  circumstances,  threatened  Andre  and  those  nearest  and 
dearest  to  him  with  early  poverty.     His  General,  however, 
though  tenderly  attached  to  him,  and  doubtless  entirely  sym- 
pathizing with  his  private  griefs,  seems  not  to  have  left  him 
their  undisputed  prey.     In  the  summer  heats  he  resorted  on 
occasions  to  the  cooler  shores  of  Long  Island.     Quogue  was 
one  of  his  haunts ;  where  he  would  taste  the  sea  breezes,  and 
gather  for  his  table  every  delicacy  that  the  island  could  pro- 
duce.    He  is  remembered  as  a  jovial  liver,  who  pushed  the 
bottle  freely ;  while  Andri^  with  his  bright,  fresh  face  and 
symnaetrical  figure,  and  wearing  his  hair  unusually  long,  is 
described  by  an  islander  in  whose  house  he  passed  three 
nights,  as  presenting  « the  finest  model  of  manly  beauty  he 
had  ever  seen."  About  this  period,  too,  circumstances  brought 
about  a  considerable  amelioration  of  his  professional  condi- 
tion.    It  would  appear  that  without  the  knowledge  or  appro- 
bation of  the  Commander-in-chief,  the  Minister  had  established 
certain  points  of  provincial  rank  very  unsatisfactorily  to  the 
regular  corps.     In  bringing  about  this  step,  Innes,  Drum- 
mond,  and  the  adjutant-general  Lord  Rawdon — all  prime  fa- 
vorites of  Sir  Henry's — were  said  to  be  concerned.     His  in- 
dignation was  great,  and  the  offenders  were  made  to  feel  it. 
Rawdon  was  detached  from  head-quarters  to  the  South,  and 
his  duties  naturally  devolved  on  that  one  of  the  deputies  of 
the  office  who  enjoyed  the  most  confidential  relations  with 
Clinton.    This  was  no  other  than  Andre.     We  are  told  that 
Major  Stephen  Kemble,  the  brother-in-law  of  General  Gage, 
who  had  long  filled  the  deputy's  post,  had  written  to  some 
one  or  other  in  excessively  severe  terms  of  the  conduct  of  Sir 
Henry.     By  some  mischance  these  documents  were  made 
known  at  head-quarters.     The  writer  of  course  resigned  his 
office,  and  went  to  his  regiment  (the  60th)  in  the  West  In- 
dies, where  he  earned  promotion  and  distinction.     The  vacant 
deputy  adjutant-generalcy  was  forthwith  bestowed  upon  An- 
dre ;  and  thenceforward  all  the  business  at  head-quarters  of 


iilfijll 


ANDRf;  APPOINTED  DEPIITV    «n,„n... 

"tPUTV  ADJUTANT-GENKRAL.    223 

Ihe  department  passed  through  his  hand,     T,         „ 
■he  beginning  „f  ,he  fall  of  1779    ,S" ,     '  ™'  "'"'  »'"»" 
virtual  discharge  of  the  adin..!,  ,         """""'■'Md  the 

•inued  till  his  death  wCnf"'"'''^' '"  "'■'■'=''  <>«  «""- 
Kawdon,  the  valTt  chale  "  '""  '""'  "''™'^»^''  ^"^ 
™al  friend,  LieT  &I  oL  7  r""'"  ""  ««"''»"'^  P«- 
delicacy  fore'ed  totf^  -."itt'  "'"""' ,»'  '"«  2«"'.  «ho™ 
went  on  with  aU  its  da  4  „nm  r  "'  "*"''  '^•""^'  ^"""^ 
lion  itself,  as  well  2Z  ■.    '  P""""'*''  'o  ""=  »•»- 

friend  Sitieol  Ta  el  red'T"'""'"'"  ^"  Oetober,  his 
prise  to  the  Ra'n  n'whichCT'  f""  "  ''""'  '"'«'- 
or  refreshment,  of  iver  e M  .        f  °'°''°'''  "'"«""  ''«" 

n^ber  of  largr/atZo^fK^L  f /"""-^  '""'''  " 
against  ]Vew  York      <j;,«n  '  ^'^''  **"  expedition 

w-ch  was,  h,  *e  ,rotThi:::;rA"?."'"i  ^'^^"•'^' 

(ecus  and  particular  onnonen   H^       >  '^'  ""^  ^'^  '^«" 

that  he  was  e«hanld  Tnj  "'"^.^''  »' '-»'  «>  modiaed 
«  hut  well  conS  plttrir::!  "'"^  '"  '"^  '™^  « 
ke  might  be  sent  to  New  Yori  1  '"";'' """«  P«'I«»i"g 
dalgence  Colonel  BayVor  had  h..  '""'°  ''  "'  ""^  *'»'"«'•  ■•"- 
ginia.    Simcoe  forwa^ed  tht  !    r  """""''^  '°  6°  '"  ^ir- 

™aereompWns;arasThLbe  ""'  1  "^""'"^'o"'  ""O 
I-ivingston,  so  it  was  ul'sw  edt  TgT  "f  ^^™°' 
<I»yor  two  after  he  was  ,en.  7  "^  ""'J^o"''™' i  but  in  a 
Slalen  Island,  December  T,  ^  ?""'  ^''*-  A'"™?  «' 
•ke  chance  of 'a^"  ng^'^t  tf  ""^  ,^f' »"  ^°-.  »"■>  " 
»as  put  into  his  hands -"!f,hT,.  "  *^'"  ^"^rd 

pare  your  regiment  for  embarka  Lr^  ^f"  *  ''''''  '»™'  P"*" 
yourself."    0„  He  26th  7^,?'/"'^  '"^""  •"  ^ew  York 

The  warships  :„^atiroi:tpeS:-^ 

manded  by  Marint  Ar-K.  ^u     .  ^r-  expedition  were  com- 

«W  -ilor,  in  « tfn"l  Jn-'d  ?'"'  .■"  ""^  ^'-'  ••» 


i 


a- 

Ipili 


!J 


224 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


Gay,  the  famous  physician  of  Queen  Anne,  the  elegant  au- 
thor  of  John  Bull ;  —  was  born  in  171],  and  died  in  1794.   His 
flag-ship  was  damaged  by  a  storm  on  the  voyage ;  —  instead  of 
signalling  the  squadron  to  pursue  its  appointed  course,  he  led 
the  whole  convoy  after  himself,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the 
public  good.    "The  good  old  Admiral  lost  his  bobstay  in  a 
gale  of  wind— bore  away— obliged  the  fleet  to  follow.    It 
got  into  the  gulf-stream,  and  bad  weather  did  the  rest."*    As 
a  consequence  it  was  not  until  January  31st,  1780,  that  a 
part  of  the  armament  reached  Savannah,  whither  such  of 
the  vessels  as  were  not  lost  followed.    A  captured  transport 
brought  into  Charleston,  on  the  23rd,  the  first  sure  tidinrrg  of 
the  expedition.  ° 

Notwithstanding  the  peculiar  importance  of  the  city— in 
a  manner  the  gate  of  the  South  —  Washington  was  always, 
it  is  said,  of  opinion  that   evacuation  was  preferable  to  an 
uncertain  defence.     He  would  rather  lose  a  town  than  an 
army.    The  possession  of  Charleston  had  hitherto  secured  to 
the  Americans  the  control  of  the  state ;  but  since  Clinton's 
repulse  from  its  approaches  in  1776,  care  had  not  been  taken 
to  make  it,  as  its  value  deserved,  absolutely  impregnable. 
Nevertheless  its  works  were  strong.     Lying  between  the  in- 
tersection  of  the  Cooper  and  Ashley  rivers,  it  could  only  be 
invested  by  land  upon  one  of  its  three  sides,  where  a  chain 
of  redoubts  and  batteries,  mounting  over  eighty  guns  and 
mortars,  and  stretching  from  stream  to  stream,  was  itself 
further  protected  by  a  double  abatis,  a  deep  water  canal  flow- 
ing  from  Ashley  to  Cooper,  and  other  fortifications.    The 
Ashley  shore  was  lined  with  batteries  with  fifty  guns;  on 
that  of  the  Cooper,  thirty-three  were  mounted;  and  across  its 
mouth  was  a  boom  composed  of  eight  sunken  vessels,  with 
chains,  cables,  and  spars  lashed  between  their  lower  masts. 
Five  armed  ships  with  124  guns,  and  some  galleys,  were  ar- 
rayed behind  this  cheval-de-frise.     The  fortifications  on  the 
island  m  the  harbor  were  also  strong  and  in  good  condition; 

*  Clinton  MS. 


*■ 


the  elewnnt  au- 


SIEGE  OF  CHARLESTON.  22" 

landed  about  JHTmtZikTnV''''  ""'  ""'""""-^ 
deliberately  app^Led  tl"!     nT    ,t' *""  ""'"^  ""^ 

-0  thus  gave  Lioeoln  tij^tr"  X    7'"^~'^. 

ei7  delay  proved  of  use,"  savs  S.-.H  ^^'^"'"='-    "  *='- 

of  both  Carolinas  on  thaHnLf  »?'"'"' P"' "'«  ««» 
March,  the  BritUh  passed  aIw  B  v^rT  ''"  ""^  '""'  »<• 
c"y,  under  the  guidance  of  Cantain  S  !  '  "'""'^  "'« 
and  on  April  1st  h«,ke  ^rounrf  h  r  '^  """"°  "^"'^  ""vy , 
".eanwhilc  had  forced  ts,Zl?'M- ""'  ''""•  '^''«  ""c 
sea ,  and  on  the  14th,  the  ol  ^'  °  ""'  "'^'"^  '"'■''»  "'o 

been  kept  open  was  1  ^j  b^  fh  77"' ■''"™  """  '""1  »«" 

T1.0  city  was  defend       af   el'T"^"^  '^-'"'on.t 
about  2600  regular  and  uprrdf  of  Tooo  V"?"''"'  "' 
"■ilitia,   among  „hon,  was  nerh.!    /T  '"""  <"•  »"'<"• 
feure  soldier  and  ruler  of  thTuL     Xh':"  ''"'""'  '"-^ 
about  1000  armed  sailors,  so  that  ih;  J,".  Z""  "^^'^^ 
was  called  7000.     The  enom!t    ,       ^'    "  ''"'^"*'™  '«'« 
'i"lo greater.    "They  ^"000"-':;? O,";  """"""^  "•" 
more  than  5000." t    But  he    I        ^^  ^''°'o".  — " "o  not 
herein  the  2500  men  that  reinfn!r' 1 1,""'  /''P'*'""  '"  "'"o'"''" 
About  this  time  An  r   T^^Zf^r  """  ''"'  ^'"■''• 
I  a'ljulant  of  the  garrison  at  Sat„rah :  T'  "'''""'""^  '"  "'« 

"Head-Quarters  before  Pw*,,, 
.c,,„:„r  """"="" '"™-"-or  me 

«.n<I.d  a  «ach„.c„.  „f  .h^  ^^J^'  ^T"'  'V,""  f^'  "^  ""•*  l.^ 
to  Col,  Tarleton.    His  officor-lika  dLhiZY<  '  ',  'J    '  '''""  '""""»  "««( 

11 


IttMlliil 


226 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR15. 


i 


whether  such  a  person  as  is  herein  described  has  ever  been 
prisoner  in  your  hands,  and  what  has  become  of  him ;  as  I 
am  requested  by  some  of  my  relations  to  make  this  inquiry. 
I  have  received  your  several  letters,  and  shall  inform  the  Gen- 
era!  of  the  resignation  you  make  of  your  pretensions  to  pur- 
chase Major  Van  Braam's  commission,  and  also  of  the  suc- 
cession proposed  of  Ens.  Fatio  and  Mr.  Clarke  to  Captain 
Garden.  By  a  letter  received  from  Col.  Steil  I  find  Mr. 
De  Crousac  recommended  to  succeed  in  a  vacant  Lieuten- 
ancy. I  fear  this  young  gentleman  has  been  wronged,  from 
his  never  having  been  heard  of.  He  may  however  I  hopo 
be  redressed  by  filling  the  vacancy  of  Lieut.  Maltey,  resigned. 

"  I  must  beg  you  to  observe  that  the  Fortnight  States  are 
to  be  signed  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  troops,  and  not 
by  the  Deputy  Adjutant  General :  which  I  request  you  to 
be  kind  enough  to  rectify  in  the  future  ones  to  be  transmitted. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most 
humble  servant,  John  Andre,  Dy.  A.  Gen. 

"  Be  so  good,  Sir,  as  to  oniit  no  opportunity  of  sending 
convalescents  here.  A  vessel  may  possibly  be  sent  round  to 
receive  them  —  but  Gen.  Prevost  will  I  dare  say  in  the  mean 
time  dispatch  what  he  can." 

On  the  6th  May  the  third  parallel  was  finished,  and  the 
British  thus  enabled  to  sap  the  waters  of  the  canal,  which 
was  then  made  a  cover  for  their  Yagers  to  gall  with  close 
rifle-shots  the  defenders  of  the  lines ;  while  balls,  bombs,  car- 
casses  and  fireballs  were  showered  on  the  town.  The  fire- 
brigade  was  in  constant  service;  and  wherever  the  enemy  I 
saw  by  the  smoke  that  they  had  kindled  a  house,  there  they| 
would  drop  a  bomb.  As  provisions  began  to  run  short  with  | 
the  besieged,  a  shell  filled  with  rice  and  molasses  was  thrown  i 
in  delicate  raillery  into  their  ranks;  and  in  the  same  spirit 
was  returned  charged  with  sulphur  and  hog's  lard  for  tliej 
benefit  of  the  Scots  regiments.  Desertions  were  not  numer- 
ous, though  there  were  sufficient  facilities  for  stealing  through  I 


*  This  sev 

[troops  were  ( 

ncitiier  a  Pre 


THE  FALL  OF  CHABLESTOS. 


,     .  227 

lire  invcslmcnls  to  onablo  Du  Portail  ,„  ■ 
llie  lown  after  li,e  last  D„r„i,»i  .  '"'  <»''>oyo(l  i„io 

.!.«  officer  advkd  ™  w"       ""^  "''8''"-     ^"'o  «'  "  "as, 

to  W<1  out.  On  ..,e  10  rALIl  h  f  r'™""''  °"  ^"'«"» 
U,e  8>h  May  Ue  was  aL  „  ,^^1^!  f"''  '*'"«=<' '»  ^-eld  ,•  „„ 
was  rapidly  ceasing  .„  b"  elwe  ^  f"''"''"  "  l""^'  ""■>' 
the  proposed  terras  the  «!„!  '"*  """'•'  "'»  "^^Pt 

*^e  notified  aiton7Lr-,r''""'''  """'  '  '«  "'C 
Though  it  „a,  no.:X  u.  ,V     Jt"'""'  '"  "™'^'=  "'™' 
English  to  storm  the  Cn  L7'"  T"' "^''"""^ ''''"'  "'« 
c«.ion,  a  railder  eounsTprevS   °  A  '"  ""^'='«'<='  «'  "- 
.he  capitulation  was  dWvan Lto t  tthT''''  ''^''-'^''. 
necessities  and  the  laws  of  war  em  .1^  rr^r™*""-    ^'«'■•■■ 
a«l  conditions,  but  the  rait  buirpin  to       ",,''"""''' 
have  been  the  manner  of  surrender     T^^      «»  swallow  raust 
to  march  out  with  the  horZot"''    ^^     J"""  ^""'•'•^"^ 
flying,  and  shouldered  ar^     T?       ""''"""''"""S'"'"''" 
the  arms  were  grounded  W,  J        u  ''?'"'"^''  """  "''"n 
nor  should  his  drums  bea\T;-  f""'^  ""'  "^  ™»'-). 
ne  garrison,  consuTng  oTevery   dl  "J,  ""tT"  "'-«''•• 
in  the  defence  of  the  town  l!.™  °  '""'  ■"■•"«  "™^ 

tke  m  May  OlintoVSptT^^r""-  »^--  «"^  »„ 

»nd!;:^"„,ts'^ro;trh:st''-"'""'" """' "  ^-*». 

not  yield  till  the  Iasrn!o„    f        '"P"''""""'-     That  it  did 

«J.e  Napoleon-  ^ilZlfo'T'"'''.'''^  •™'='  •"■'-  "" 
"ithout  at  least  one  Z^^ZT'T"  ^'"""'' ^"«'™'' 
J*nded  at  all,  unless  suLsf,!  "'t  "'"■',''  ""^ '"'™ 
Sallantry  of  ,he  citizens  anT  he  M  ''.*  '"''"''  "'•''  "'« 
"Hogiee  for  Lincoln's  ft  al  eri,  J  •  V'''"'"^''  ^"<«'^- 
other  hand,  this  event  must  »T         [  J'"'S'"«'«-     On  the 

credit  to  Clinton.     mTe^'ir  ^  "'"""="   "  S'^' 

*"'S''  ™»  well-conceivcd,  and  ex- 

•This  BevcrilywiM  exactly  relorlo,!  „.  v    ,. 
l~PS«,e  compelled  to  m„rcl,„r,vifl,.  ?"'"»»■"•  "h«"  Coraw«ll,V, 
«l,e,  a  French  or  American  1°",|.  "  "'""'  "'"'  ''"'""  l»«ti"g 


J 


'S*' 


-.  i . 


928 


LIFE  OF  MAJOU  ANDKft. 


:n«i 


ecuted  in  the  best  vein  of  military  judgment.  With  a  force 
numerically  not  exceeding  that  of  his  foe,  and  with  hut 
trifling  loss  to  Ijimself,  he  compelled  nearly  7000  men 
strongly  fortified  to  lay  down  their  arms* 

After  the  fall  of  the  city,  wo  are  told  that  there  was  an 
opinion  current  in  our  army  that  Andre  had  been  present  in  its 
lines  during  the  siege  as  a  spy  ;  and  in  1822  it  was  declared 
that  two  gentlemen  of  repute  still  surviving  at  Charleston, 
affirmed  at  least  the  existence  of  the  report  in  1 780.    One  of 
these  had  been  an  officer  of  Clinton's ;  the  other,  a  resident  of 
the  place  through  and  after  the  siege.     Another  witness  goes 
further.    Edward  Shrewsberry,  a  suspected  tory,  but  of  good 
condition,  was  ill  at  his  house  in  East  Bay.     His  brother,  a 
whig,  leaving  the  lines  to  visit  him,  found  repeatedly  there'  a 
young  man  clad  in  homespun,  to  whom  he  was  introduced  as 
a  Virginian  belonging  to  the  troops  then  in  the  city ;  and  as 
such  he  considered  the  stranger.   After  the  capitulation,  meet- 
ing the  same  person  at  the  same  place,  he  was  again  present- 
ed to  him  as  Major  Andre ;  and  taxing  his  brother  with  the 
identity  of  the  two  characters,  they  were  confessed  to  have 
been  one  and  the  same  man.     To  another  visitor,  his  son 
records  that  the  stranger  in  homespun  had  been  represented 
"  as  a  back  countryman,  who  had  brought  down  cattle  for  the] 
garrison  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,"  — an  assertion  j 
that  passed  unsuspected  and  unchallenged  until  months  afterJ 
when  Andre  had  been  hanged  and  the  visitor  who  related 
the  story  was  returned  from  confinement  at  St.  Augustine's, 
when  the  whig  Shrewsberry  informed  him  that  the  cattle- 
driver  he  had  seen  with  his  brother  was  no  other  than  Ma- 
jor  Andre  in  disguise.     These   declarations,  coming  froni| 
distinct  and  respectable  sources,  seem  to  bear  the  marks  of  i 
truth;  and  that  the  circumstance,  if  it  really  occurred,  was | 
not  singular,  appears  from  the  case  of  Col.  Hamilton  Bailen- 

*  The  Return  of  prisoners  to  the  anny  at  the  surrender,  Mav  12th  1780  j 
18  s.gned  by  Andre,  as  Deputy  Adjutant-General.    Those  inade  by  tk 
J-  leet,  including  seamen,  &c.,  do  not  figure  therein liememb.  x.  76. 


nt.     With  a  force 
be,  and  with  but 

lenrly   7000   men 

» 

that  there  was  an 
been  present  in  its 
12  it  was  declared 
ng  at  Charleston, 
in  1780.    One  of 
ther,  a  resident  of 
)ther  witness  goes 
1  lory,  but  of  good 
.     His  brother,  a 
•epeatedly  there  a 
was  introduced  m 
I  the  city ;  and  as 
;apitulation,  meet- 
fas  again  present- 
brother  with  the 
ionfessed  to  have 
T  visitor,  his  son 
been  represented 
own  cattle  for  the  I 
"  —  an  assertion  i 
titil  months  after, 
iitor  who  related! 
t  St.  Augustine's,  j 
that  the  cattle- 
other  than  Ma- 
is, coming  fronij 
ar  the  marks  of 
ly  occurred,  was| 
larailton  Ballen- 

Icr,  May  12tli,  1780,1 
t'liose  made  by  (liej 
temenib.  x.  76. 


A  SPY  AT  CIIARLESTOX.  229 

(line,  who,  in  tUn  vni.«  i      •     . 

lengod,  l,e  g„vo  I,!.  „„„„  in  "1  „^  '?"  »•  ^^'-  <••>■"!- 
"01  sufficient,  l,e  prcluced  fro,n  1,1  ""'','«""S  '"^  "'«t  w., 
Anorican  works  that  1  o  had  „,  '  ''  "'  •""•"""'"^  "^  "'« 
informed  of  I,i,  cnor  aa  to  he  nT,  "/  ,'"'"''""''•  "<>  '™» 
•0  Lincoln,  by  «.,,„,„  „X  /!''  "'"  "'"•""'  ""^  -"' 
!."«  M  ,0  add  ,ha.,  if  tl  i^^  ZyZ  TT'!'  ''""S""'-     I'  " 

j.  w-  aftcward,  1"e3.o„ed  b"! Xe rr"'"'' ■  '"'°"«"- 
m  our  service.  ^  Scniicmen  of  equal  cliaroclcr 


>'*»<<l  III 


"•'in  i  '31 

jiL"' '  '«• 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Clinton   returns  to  Nc^  York.  -  Proposed  Attack  on  Rochambeau.- 
1  lans  for  a  Loyal  Uprising.  -  Anecdotes  of  Andr<5.  -The  Cow-Chase. 

During  Clinton's  absence,  the  unusual  severity  of  the 
winter   had  frozen  the  waters  about  New  York  so  i5rmly 
that  tlie  whole  train  of  our  army  might  safely  have  passed 
over.     Lest  such  an  attempt  should  be  made,  the  layal  in- 
habitants  petitioned  to  be  embodied;  and  an  additional  force 
ot  nearly  6000  men  was  thus  arrayed  for  the  defence  of  the 
city,  of  whom  about  1000  were  armed  and  uniformed  at  their 
own  cost -"many  of  the  most  respectable  citizens  servin. 
m  the  ranks  of  each  company."     There  was  apparent  need 
for  this  display  when  the  Hudson  to  Paulus  Hook  presented 
a  causeway  of  ice  of- but  2000  yards  from  shore  to  shore  ■ 
but  unfortunately  the  miserable  state  of  our  army  prevented! 
any  advantage   from  the  opportunity   being  taken.      The 
spirits  of  the  loyalists,  however,  were  wonderfully  cheered 
by  these  musterings;   many  deserters  and  others  came  in 
from  Jersey,  where  Chief-justice  Smith  advised  Knyphausen 
now  to  raise  the  royal  standard,  in  the  idea  that  militia  and 
continentals  would  hasten  to  join  it,  and  the  state  be  subdued 
before  Clinton  s  return  and  without  his  aid.     This  plan  wJ 
tried  on  June  7th,  but  nothing  came  of  it;  the  En^^lish  re- 
tr",  n  f  '''"'^  P^»»de"ng  and  skirmishing  with  a  loss  of  I 
oOO  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  and  closely  observed  by 
AVashington  s  army,  now  reduced  to  but  3000  or  4000  men 
Leaving  4000   men  with  Cornwallis,  and  Carolina  and 
Oreoi-gia  to  all  appearance  entirely  reduced,  Sir  Henry  hur- 
ned  back  to  New  York  ;  justly  apprehending  a  design  of  the 
Irench  armament  now-on  the  coast  to  make  with  WashiiF- 


on  the 


BErnSH  MOVEMENTS.  231 

ion  a  conjoined  attack  on  liis  lines     I„  f.,„,  i  • 
already  been  in  the  power  of  The' F..    T         """'"^  ''«'' 
Chesapeake,  and  had  ^-1  d  byof  r'  "  '""'  ""^ 
».  th«  .arge  ...cK,p-ahips'for  nll^JlslIZ^'lirjT 

West  Point.  ;:  ',:!;'";/''  "•'  """'  ""  '^-^'""S^"  or 
absence  of  kZhan"e  ,  «  T  '"°''''°"""'' '""'  ^'■"'""S^d 
at  a  time  >vhen  S  H  ciin,  T  ^""^""'  ""°™  '"  J'^'^r. 
combined  move  al^tt  W  ^  """P"^"'"'  "' P^^'entcd  a 
decisive:»^and  W„ sLTr  7?'"",^'''  ■"'«'"  '"'™  t«^^" 
bination  would  rn^h'tv  t'T^^  ""'"'  """  "'»-  »■»- 

-,  .a,  thint  ^e;;:at:t"^ -irrttnT'""" 

Javc  t..ansp„,..3  in  reldireLTTo'cVr '  Z  tTstb 

at^™r3°  /"etb^Tkar  '™'  "°"^^^^^  '»  '  A  Cii^fo 
however,  were  Tw  in™  ''■''''"f '^  "^'"^  '"'■■     These 
'l.e  arn>;  eZrked  ofti  e  T'"f  "f  ""'  ""  ""  2'"'  ™^ 
don  Bay;  XrekZ^.f^^  ""''  "'"™J-'=''  ">  Hunting- 
by  Sir  H  nry  to  t  eldt     , t,  '?""•"  "' "  ^^^«^'  'J^^P'"<=he<i 

port.    Meantae  Roctl         "1""'""  """  ''"'"=''  »'  N''- 
with  heavvTns  td  r  ,       ""*  '"  ^'^g'h'ned  l>is  works 

.bat  a  join't  tZut  ^ZITL^T^',  '"'  '?""=  '""'^' 
question,  and  the  niomlTf  T"'    '''"""^  ""'  "^  ">« 

Sorely  disappollted  and ^  .  ° LI  17,^ ■"  '""=  ,»™^  ''^• 

"-'"eaUtretornedtowtrtoVctCSr:: 

*  Clinton  MS.  Marshall,  iv.  c.  5 

t  Stedm.  ii.  246 "  Mr  <Sf„,i. 

tXis  rnovc.  It  had  been  prop^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  totally  ignorant  of  the  object  of 

ave  been  landed  in  Escor  El't^^^^^^^^  H-^^^-ton  should 

tion  [debarkation?!:  but  as  thp  a1.    T  ^''"''^  ''^  *'•«'■•  embarka- 

t'll  ten  days  after,  and  tl  1^1"'  had  7     '"""  7'  '"'"""^'^  "^  *''«''•  '^--"val 

fortify,  it  would  n;t  ha^^be  n  out  ,        '7    T'  ""'^  ^^^'^  '^'^^  time  to 

tempt: -and  if  the  rdmiralh  "^«        rodent  for  the  army  abne  to  at- 

part  with  the  Navv  he  22  ,..  "  ''™P'''^*^  "^  *«'"'%'  ««  active 

i3  all  that  need  be'l^id  Id  peiV^r^ V'"  '7""^  ^''  ^'" '"•  ^^  '^'"^ 
,        perhaps  M,.  Stedman  affords  us  tlie  best  reason 


232 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


equal  encounter  with  the  French  ;  and  officers  applied  to  the 
a^utant-general  as  an  especial  favor  for  such  employment, 
llie  General  assures  you,"  he  replied  to  Simcoe,  "that  the 
Rangers  shall  be  pitted  against  a  French  regiment  the  first 
time  he  can  procure  a  meeting."  These  regiments  were  the 
Bourbonnais,  Soissonnais,  Santonge,  and  Deux  Fonts :  and 
Lauzun's  Legion. 

Among  other  objects  that  now  commanded  Andrd's  atten- 
tion  was  a  correspondence  with  the  chief  tories  of  that  loyal 
region  lying  between  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  bays  • 
which  was  intended  to  terminate  in  the  successful  uprisL' 
of  several  thousand  men  in  arms  for  the  king,  under  the  pro! 
tection  of  a  strong  British  detachment.  There  were  great 
hopes  of  this  measure  when  matters  should  be  ripe,  for  the 
district  was  populous  and  unquestionably  abundant  in  loy- 
alists ;  but  it  was  nipped  by  unforeseen  events. 

Various  anecdotes  are   preserved   that  show  with  what 
gentleness  of  spirit  Andre  bore  his  honors.     When  Lamb 
one  of  the  Convention  troops  of  Saratoga,  escaped  from  his' 
officers  and  from  the  Americans -" honorable  .desertion." 
Burgoyne  called  them,  since  instead  of  being  allowed  to  go 
to  England  as  the  capitulation  provided.  Congress  retained 
them  prisoners  for  exchange  -  and  with  a  party  of  his  com- 
rades was  sheltered  by  the  country  people  till  he  got  to  New 
York,  he  was  received  at  Head-quarters  by  Andre,  who  tak- 
ing him  into  the  parlor,  closely  questioned  him  of  his  route 
his  risks,  the  numbers  of  the  Americans,  their  treatment  of 
prisoners    &c.;  and  finally  rewarded  himself  and  his  com- 
rades in  Sir  Henry's  name,  and  proffered  them  either  a  free 
passage  home  or  service  in  any  regiment  they  chose.     Of  his 
lenity  to  prisoners  also  we  have  a  trivial  but  doubtless  au- 
thentic  anecdote  from  a  Mr.  Drewy. 

for  not  attempting  anything.^^  -  Clinton  MS.  "It  was  renortcd  so.nfl 
Um.  after  that  the  French  were  in  such  consternation  at  being  bloi  1 
by  a  superior  fleet,  that  had  we  proceeded,  at  our  arrival  they  would  ha" 


ANECDOTES  OE  ANDM.  233 

"  ■*■  ''oraging  party  from  New  Yorlc  m„j„ 
our  settlement  near  that  city  Tf«?.  ,.  '""^^  '"•» 
sembled  to  oppose  them  •  anrt  .h  .  ""Sl'bours  soon  as- 
.W.  I  turned  out  with  1^;  '"iTf"'  """''  """^  ^^"'^ 
>»7,  in  age  and  size  nea,^  my  tn  speeT  W^  T.'  ''"°""" 
on  a  fine  chase :  but  the  Rrin.i    ^  ^  '"^  ™''"'<'<I 

easily  as  we  had  exited  ^" '^V""''.''."'  '"  "^  '''■»'™  «> 

«n.y  put  us  to  mght,ctptut"trar:r ""''■  '"'^  -'" 

self  and  the  other  boy  amon.  them      Th  P""^'  "^'• 

with  us  for  New  York :  and"  all!  ^  '"''''""^  ^'^'  "f 
my  heart  ached  to  think  how  d"t  esseZv"  "'  ""^  ^'"'• 
sisters  would  be  when  ni  Jt  f  ^  ^'  ""'"'"  ""d 

Soon  as  they  brlu^ht  1  "5,    Tt  f"^  ^  *''  »»'  -«'>>™- 
with  horror     The  jlZv  „  n        ,""  P"™"'  ^  «^  ^'■•"* 
doo,.  and  wretTh  d'cTw^a "r     ^''''""'  ^""^^  "'  "- 
with  the  thoughts  of  beTn!  L\   i      "?"  "'"'''""'  '"S^'her 
wUh  disease  Ind  dea  h "^  '^^:^Zl  TZt'  """="<»- 
tears.     Instantly  a  richly  7Z    T  «        "'  ^  '""^""'  ""» 
^ting  me  by  tl^^n^i  ^  Jk  -  "''"•^''  -"  ^' 
»d,-.My  dear  boy,  w'hat  mates "oVcr/v^'xtrr 
I  could  not  help  it  whpn  T«  ,      ^        -^  *°^*^  J"™ 

pect  with  the  llpvTnri  /•    T'*^  "^  P'<''""'  «>''  P">- 

mother  and  sisteTat  hoi  -"^We;  w^,"""™'"'  ''">  "^ 
said  he,  'don't  cry  donvT  '     ""'  ""^  '''''^  <=''ild,' 

.he,ailer„rdere7him°:s7p:nfhT:t:„ldr  '77  ^ 
was  struck  with  the  wonderfnl  rfifl-  ,     """"  ■""•*•     ^ 

a»d  the  rest  around  me     flf !nn       f'  '""''^"  ""  ■»"" 

.hey  like  brutes.    llLed^heTT        "  ""  '"'^  "  ''«'""=-' 

that's  Major  Andre" 'said  he    '7  "'^"'  ^'  ^^-    '™'y. 

»f  *e  army;  .and  Uu  may  ,r°T ^'  '""^  «'Ji'"«"'-general 

you,  fori  supp,^e  fhat  Z\  ^""^  '"^  """  '«'  «»'' 

.o«  5  as  he^:  te  ma  yT;;:"-!:  "  '"  "^'^ 
men.'    In  a  shor^  f;r««  u  •'^  ~  ^^"^'^  country- 

i.i^  coumenantlC  o^uVir^^i  -^T'  T'  ^"^^- 

news  for  you!    The  apnpmi  i,  '  ^  ^^^'  ^^^  good 

--chLe,a„:^:;:;':--ibr»"«^rr^ 


I^.,„ ,  l« 


234 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDKlS. 


to  your  fond  parents,  and  be  good  boys:  mind  what  they  tell 
you;    say  your  prayers;  love  one  another;  and   God  Al 
mighty  will  bless  you.*" 

The  month  of  July,  1780,  furnished  Andrd  with  an  occa- 
sion  for  the  best  known  of  his  verses,  which  seem  to  have 
been  written  as  much  to  gratify  his  own  keen  perceotion  of 
the  ludicrous  as  to  retaliate  in  kind  the  satirical  assaults  that 
were  made  by  the  other  side  upon  himself  and  his  friends 
On  the  20th,  our  army  was  stationed  in  the  upper  part  of 
Bergen  county.  New  Jersey ;  and  St.  Clair  having  the  h^ht 
mfantry  during  La  Fayette's  visit  to  Rochambeau,  Wayne^of 
course  commanded   the  Pennsylvania  line.      With  its  two 
brigades,  some  guns  of  Proctor's  artillery,  and  Moylan's  dra- 
goons, amounting  in  all,  perhaps,  to  less  than  2000  men,  he 
started  from  camp  on  an  expedition  that  would  have  lon^r  a,ro 
been  forgotten  but  for  the  comic  strain  in  which  a  foeman 
commemorated  its  results.*    The  object  was  to  harry  Bergen 

*  The  composition  of  the  Cow-Chase  may  have  been  suggested  by  the 
fact  that  Andrd  had  boarded  with  John  Thompson,  the  woodcutting  age„ 
at  New  York.    He  also  probably  visited  the  scene  of  action  with  Clinton 
riie  p.ece  was  written  at  Head^iuarters,  No.  1,  Broadway,  and  was  given 
for  publication  to  Eivmgton,  whose  Gazette  was  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the 
Whigs  of  the  neighborhood.    Among  his  friends  he  was  a  merrv,  jovial 
companionable  person  enough;  but  to  his  enemies  he  was  a  perf;ct  pest.' 
Ihe  Rev.  Dr.  Witherspoon,  in  his  pretended  recantation  of  Towne,  savs-  - 
However,  take  it  Avhich  way  you  will,  there  never  was  a  lie  published  in 
rhiladelphia  that  could  bear  the  least  comparison  with  those  published  by 
James  Riyington  in  New  York.    This,  in  my  opinion,  is  to  be  imputed  to 
he  superiority  not  of  the  printer,  but  of  the  prompter  or  prompters.    I 
reckon  Mr.  Tryon  to  have  excelled  in  that  branch,  and  probably  he  had  manv 
coadjutors.  What  do  you  think  of  40,000  Russians,  and  20,000  Moors,  which 
Moors  too  were  said  by  Mr.  Rivington  to  be  dreadful  among  the  women  V 
as  also  of  the  boats  building  at  the  forks  of  Monongahela  to  carry  the 
Congress  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans?    These  were  swingers."  -  He 
made  great  fun  too  of  Governor  Livingston,  who  had  imprudently  taken 
the  pen  agamst  him.    "If  Rivington  is  taken,  I  must  have  one  of  his  ears, 
Gov.  Chnton  is  entitled  to  the  other;    and  General  Washington,  if  he 
pleases,  may  take  his  head,"  writes  Livingston  in  1780;  and  if  the  Cow- 
Chase  was  felt  nowhere  else,  it  hit  hard  here.    Fifty  years  after.  Livings- 
X.1  s  descendant  and  biographer  comments  on  "  the  scurrilous  and  abusive 
cow-Chase,  which  no  one  can  read  without  lessening  his  sympathv  for  the 


THE  COW-CIIASE. 


235 


Neck  and  to  break  up  a  bloekl.ouse  at  liuWs  Ferrv  I      r 
Lee,  whore  seventy  refu-ees  un^.Jr     T  ^  ^^  ^  ^''^ 

protect  the  British'woodc;  e^s     ,  d  ^oT  '""  ^"^^'  ^^ 
Jl-t  might  be  found  in  the  vidnUy     1 TT  '7/""" 
I'imself  most  spiritedly  thoud  T.      ^'    /^"^  ^"^^^^i'  defended 
with  fifty-two 'ear^r  bl ,?  ,  "orf "  "^'1^  ^^  P--d 
Wayne  retired,   hung  on     is    kirt  •  "'^ '   ^'"^^  ^^'''«" 

rescuing  some  of  the  snoil  II  '  '''''"^  '''''^^^'''^  «"d 
and  wounded;  Wayirbl/  ^  ~  ^olr^  '}^^^^ 
of  "llie  brave  Sevcntv"  tl»  li„  °  ""  ^^''-'ivors 

p.-ov.-.Iof.„eirvalorLdtli;;r"'°''  "'^  "''^"'"  -"■ 

It  13  liardly  needful  to  observe  tl,^.  .1  • 
says  Mr.  Sparks,  with  ™ueh  ,1  a    s  c    de  Z  '^"'  ~  "'''"''' 
several  stanzas  of  genuine  bnmr       ,       •         ™"''"''  '=»"'»'"^ 
Cl.evy  Chase      Tbe  Z  ^"^  ""''^ "  '^  "><"l<-'lled  on 

cditi  hav  •  sev    al  r:7:  ""^."^  "^"  ^  "-  ""g-al 

n.y  own  b,  ^^^<:^;^:::::z^;v::^:^ '"'  'r 

Slowed  on  tl,e  airs  in  vo^ue  at  Am";        /       ''"  """"'  ^''■ 

■•"  Rivington's  paper  .u.,C„d  ,nu    T  '""'  "  "'"'"^ 

I   i-       "oo'-i'iea  ttiat  the  managers  of  the  Phil- 

imfortunate  Andrc^,"  apronos  nf  «5f.vr         ,      , 

familv.  The  Poem\varrucn  f  f S^^  "^-^™^^  -th  the 
appearing  on  the  16th  Auffust  thoJJT  \  '"Nervals;  the  first  canto 
23rcl  Sept.  1780.  Dunla^'r  ^that  R^^^^  f  ''"''  ^"^  ^'^^  ^'-^  on  the 
canto  from  the  author  on'the'day  b  orf  "sf "  T/'  '^  '"^'^^'^^^  "^  ^-^ 
pubhshed  on  the  very  dav  of  hi,  .     .  ''"*  ''^  ^^^^  Arnold;  it  was 

t'^e  great  vogue  it  ha^  21  Sd  "'l  ^^  ""^'^^^'^  contributed  " 
volume  from  Andrd's  original  aut7c"rthMS  iP?!,''^  '^'  ''''''''''  "'  ""'^ 
Cow-Chase,  in  Three  Cantos,  P  birsL"  d  «!!  o'  "'"^  ""'"^  "'^^«  c'^^ions. 
Wayne's  Attack  of  the  Refugee  'it  ,   H  ?  "^  '''°  '^^'^'^^  General 

'lay  the  21  ,t  of  July,  1780.  NeVS^^^^  '?  ""''^°"'«  I^'-'".  On  Fri. 
and  The  Co,v-Chase,  an  Ileroick  Poen  •  ^pr'"-^''"'  ^^^O,  8vo.  pp.  69 :  - 
Vork,  1780,  by  the  'late  mIJ  And  '  "viU  "; '^r^""  ^^-«- at  New 
Editor.  -^      ^"^"^^  ^vifh  Explanatory  Notes  by  the 

May  live  to  fight  another  day  " 
Saia  Butler  iu  his  deathless  lay. 
,,  «ut  ho  who  is  i„  battle  slain 
Can  never  rise  to  fight  again:" 
A3  wisely  thought  good  General  Wayne 

London;  Fielding,  1781  4to    nn  qo     t.  ■ 


286 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


adelphia  Assembly  Balls  should  thenceforth  add  to  the  tunes 
of  Burgoyne's  Surrender,  Clinton's  Retreat,  and  the  like,  the 
new  dancing-measure  of  A  Trip  to  the  Block-House^  or  The 
Woodcutter's  Triumph. 


THE  COW-CHASE. 


CANTO   I. 


Elizabeth-Town,  August  1, 1780. 
To  drive  the  kine  one  summer's  morn 

The  Tanner  took  his  way ;  * 
The  calf  shall  rue,  that  is  unborn. 

The  jumbling  of  that  day. 

And  Wayne  descending  steers  shall  know, 

And  tauntingly  deride ; 
And  call  to  mind,  in  every  low, 

The  tanning  of  his  hide. 

Let  Bergen  cows  still  ruminate. 

Unconscious  in  the  stall 
What  mighty  means  were  used  to  get — 

And  lose  them  after  all. 

For  many  heroes  bold  and  brave 
From  New  Bridge  and  Tapaan ;  f 


*  [General  Wayne's  legal  occupation.]  By  the  wav,  this  order  may  ex- 
plain  the  last  scenes  of  the  cattle  taken:  — "One  of  "the  drafts  acquainted 
with  the  management  of  hides  and  tallow  from  each  wing  to  be  sent  to 
the  Commissary  of  Hides  at  the  Magazine."  -  il/,S.  Avi.  Orderly-book 
Aug.  11,  1780.  ^       ' 

t  [Village  in  New  Jersey]  on  Wayne's  lino  of  march. 


idd  to  the  tunes 
nd  the  like,  the 
-House^  or  The 


August  1, 1780. 


know, 


t— 


is  order  may  ex- 
Irafts  acquainted 
ng  to  be  sent  to 
im.  Orderly-book, 


THE  COW-CHASE. 

And  those  that  drink  Passaick'a  wave ,♦ 
And  those  that  eat  soupaan  J  t 

And  sons  of  distant  Delaware, 
And  still  remoter  Shannon  j 

A  ^T  ^''  ""''^  ^^'^^^  rare, 
And  Proctor  with  his  cannon.J 

All  wondrous  proud  in  arms  they  eanae; 
What  hero  would  refuse 

^«^{;;^«^  the  rugged  path  to  fame 
Who  had  a  pair  of  shoes  ?  § 

At  six,  the  host  with  sweating  buff 

Arrived  at  Freedom's  Pole:  II 
When  Wayne  who  thought  he'd  time  enough 

Thus  speechified  the  whole.  °  ' 

"Oh  ye,  whom  Glory  doth  unite, 
Who  Freedom's  cause  espouse ; 
-Whether  the  wing  that's  doomed  to  fioht 
Or  that  to  drive  the  cows -^  °    ' 

*  [A  river  in  New  Jersey.] 

I  llie  numbers  of  Irish  in  fi,-.  t> 
called,  in  «.e  „.,  ^e  line  o   i?"S™t  J™  »""  -«=■>  >t .»  b, 

corps,  and  its  dashing  a»l>i6v«menbwr  >>yt^"»rxn«r  equipage  ofliis 
good  lighter,  were  over-fcndof  n.t,„^  ?  '!>«  Wayne's  brigade  ttongh 
my  equal  corps  in  the  sen-ice""""'  ""'^  """'^O  "'"■  '"ger  train,  thfn 


237 


238  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi.  * 

"  Ere  yet  you  tempt  your  further  way, 
.  Or  into  action  come ; 
Hear,  soldiers,  what  I  have  to  say ; 
And  take  a  pint  of  rum. 

"  Intemp'rate  valour  then  will  string 

Each  nervous  arm  the  better : 
So  all  the  land  shall  10  sincr. 

And  read  the  General's  letter.* 

"  Know,  that  some  paltry  Refugees 

Whom  I've  a  mind  to  fight, 
Are  playing  h — 1  among  the  trees 

That  grow  on  yonder  height. 

"  Their  fort  and  block-houses  we'll  level, 

And  deal  a  horrid  slaughter : 
We'll  drive  the  scoundrels  to  the  devil, 

And  ravish  wife  and  daughter. 

"  I,  under  cover  of  th'  attack. 

Whilst  you  are  all  at  blows. 
From  English-Neighbourhood  and  Tinack  f 

Will  drive  away  the  cows. 

"  For  well  you  know  the  latter  is 
The  serious  operation : 

*Jn'^  ^f"j^  probably  the  same  printed  in  Almon's  Remembrancer, 
X.  290,  and  credited  to  the  Pennsylvania  Packet,  Aug.  1, 1780.  It  is  from 
Washmgton  to  the  President  of  Congress,  July  26, 1780,  and  after  narrat- 
ing the  stoo'  of  the  expedition,  the  failure  of  the  attack  on  the  block-house 
by  reason  of  the  cannon  being  "  too  light  to  penetrate  the  logs  of  which  it 
was  constructed,"  and  the  "intemperate  valor  "of  our  men  that  occasioned 
80  great  loss  to  themselves,  he  concludes:  "  I  have  been  thus  particular,  lest 
the  account  of  this  affair  should  have  reached  Philadelphia  much  exagger- 
ated, as  is  commonly  the  case  upon  such  occasions." 

t  [Villages  in  New  Jersey.] 


h 


el, 


THE  COW-CHASE. 
And  fighting  with  the  Refugees 
U  only —demonstration." 

His  daring  words,  from  all  the  crowd 
Such  great  applause  did  gain, 

Ihat  every  man  declar'd  aloud 
For  serious  work  — with  Wayne. 

Then  from  the  cask  of  rum  once  more 
-luey  took  a  heady  gill  • 

They'd  fight  upon  the  hill. 

But  here-the  muse  hath  not  a  strain 

-Befittmg  such  great  deeds: 
Huzza,  they  cried.     Huzza  for  Wayne  I 

And  shouting  - ^ 


239 


ack  t 


Remembrancer, 
80.  It  is  from 
i  after  narrat- 
he  block-house 
3g8  of  which  it 
hat  occasioned 
particular,  lest 
nuch  exagger- 


CANTO   II. 

Near  his  meridian  pomp,  the  sun 
Had  journey'd  from  th'  horizon ; 

When  fierce  the  dusty  tribe  mov'd  on 
Of  heroes  drunk  as  poison. 

The  sounds  confus'd  of  boasting  oaths 

Reecho'd  through  the  wood  : 

Some  vow'd  to  sleep  in  dead  men's  deaths, 
And  some  — to  swim  in  blood. 

At  Irvine's  nod  'twas  fine  to  see 
1  he  left  prepared  to  fight ; 

The  while  the  drovers,  Wayne  and  Lee, 
iJrew  off  upon  the  right. 


240  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 

Whigh  Irvine  'twas,  Fame  don't  relate; 

Nor  can  the  Muse  assist  her : 
Whether  'twas  he  that  cocks  a  hat, 

Or  hi  th^t  |»ives  a  glister. 

For  greatly  one  was  signalized 
That  fought  at  Chestnut  Hill ; 

And  Canada  immortalized 
The  vender  of  the  pill. 

Yet  the  attendance  upon  Proctor 
They  both  might  have  to  boast  of; 

For  there  was  business  for  the  doctor 
And  hats  to  be  dispos'd  of.* 

Let  none  uncandidly  infer 
That  Stirling  wanted  spunk  ; 

The  self-made  Peer  had  sure  been  there, 
But  that  the  Peer — was  drunk. 


But  turn  we  to  the  Hudson's  banks, 
Where  stood  the  modest  train 

With  purpose  firm,  tho'  slender  ranks, 
Nor  car'd  a  pin  for  Wayne. 

For  them  the  unrelenting  hand 

Of  rebel  fury  drove, 
And  tore  from  every  genial  band 

Of  Friendship  and  of  Love. 


And  some  within  a  dungeon's  gloom. 
By  mock  tribunals  hiid, 

*  [One  of  the  Irvines  was  a  hatter,  the  other  a  physician  ]  Dr.  William 
Irvine,  after  two  years'  captivity  in  Canada,  now  commanded  the  2nd  Penn- 
eylvania  regiment.  Brigadier  James  Irvine  of  the  militia  was,  it  will  ^e 
recollected,  taken  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Dec.  1777. 


THE  COW-CllASE. 

Had  ^vaited  long  a  cruel  doom 
Iiiil^endin^r  o'er  their  head. 

Here  one  bewails  a  brother's  fate , 

Ihere  one  a  sire  demands; 
Cut  off,  alas  !  before  their  date  ' 

%  ignominious  hands. 

And  silver'd  grandsires  here  appcar'd 

Jn  deep  distress  serene  ; 
Of  reverend  manners,  that  dcclar'd 

The  better  dajs  they'd  seen. 

Ocurs'drebellion!  these  are  thine; 

-Ihme  are  these  tales  of  woe  » 
Slmll  at  thy  dire  insatiate  shrine 

liiood  never  cease  to  flow  ? 

And  now  the  foe  began  to  lead 

His  forcps  to  th'  attack  ; 
Ms  whisthng  unto  balls  succeed, 

And  make  the  blockhouse  crack. 

No  shot  could  pass,  if  you  will  take 

ii'cGen'ral's  word  for  true; 

But  'tis  a  d ble  mistake, 

For  every  shot  went  thro'.* 

The  flrner  as  the  rebel,  press'd 

The  loyal  heroes  stand. 
Virtue  had   .erv'd  each  honest  breast, 

And  mdustry  each  hand. 

probab.,- mistaken.     Sj^ark^,  yJ^TlirZ^ZL  '"  "'^  '*  ""^ 


241 


ia» 


W8  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi.  ' 

"III  vnlour'd  phrenzjr  ♦  Hamilton 

"  Rodo  like  ft  soldier  big, 
"  And  Secretary  Harrison 

"  With  pen  stuck  in  his  wig. 

"  But  lest  their  chieftain  Washington 
"  Should  mourn  them  in  the  mumps,! 

"  The  fate  of  Withrington  to  shun 
" They  fought  behind  the  stumps"  J 

But  ah,  Thadffius  Posset,  why 

Should  thy  poor  soul  elope  ? 
And  why  should  Titus  Hooper  die, 

Ah  die  —  without  a  rope  ? 

Apostate  Murphy,  thou  to  whom 

Fair  Shela  ne'er  was  cruel, 
In  death  shall  hear  her  mourn  thy  doom, 

—  "  Auch,  would  you  die,  my  jewel  ?  "  —  § 

Thee,  Nathan  Pumpkin,  I  lament. 
Of  melancholy  fate : 

*  [Vide  Lee's  Trial.] —  "  When  General  Washington  asked  mc  if  I 
would  remain  in  front  and  retain  the  command,  or  he  should  take  it  and  I 
had  answered  that  I  undoubtedly  would,  and  that  he  should  see  that  I  my- 
self should  be  one  of  the  last  to  leave  the  field:  Colonel  Hamilton  flourish- 
ing his  sword  immediately  exclaimed  -  that's  right,  my  dear  General,  and 

I  will  stay,  and  we  will  all  die  here  on  this  spot. I  could  not  but  bo 

surprized  at  his  expression,  but  observing  him  much  flustered  and  in  a  sort 
ofphrenzy  of  valour,  I  calmly  requested  him,"  &c.    Lee's  Defence  in  Trial 
(ed.  1778),  p.  60.  —  Harrison  also  mentioned  in  this  verse  had  met  Andre  at 
Amboy:  where  this  personal  peculiarity  may  have  been  noticed. 
t  [A  disorder  prevalent  in  the  rebel  lines.] 

t  [The  merit  of  these  lines,  which  is  doubtless  veiy  great,  can  only  be 
felt  by  true  connoisseurs  conversant  in  ancient  song.] 
For  Withorington  needs  must  I  wayle 

As  one  in  doleful  dumps  ; 
For  when  his  legges  were  smitten  off 
lie  fought  upon  his  stumpes.  —  Chevt/  Chase. 
\  See  the  Irish  song  in  Smollett's  Rehearsal. 


THK  COW-CIIASE. 


243 


TI.0  grey  goose,  stolen  as  he  wcnf, 
in  lus  heart's  blood  was  wet.» 

Now  as  the  %ht  was  further  fought 

And  bails  began  to  thicken,     ^' 

ii;e  fray  assum'd,tl.oGen'rals  thought, 
I'le  colour  of  a  licking. 

Yet  undis^a/d  the  chiefs  command, 

And,  to  redeem  the  day, 
Cry,  Soldiers,  ciiARopr'     h       , 


reot,  can  only  be 


CANTO   Iir. 

Not  all  dehghts  the  bloody  spear. 

Or  horrid  dm  of  battle  : 
There  are  I'm  sure,  who'd  like  to  hear 

A  word  about  the  cattle. 

^t.^'^'^'/'r^^  beheld  of  late 
Near  Schralenberg  haranguing. 

Of  Irvme's  hearty  banging. 

Whilst  vah-ant  Lee,  with  courage  wild 
Most  bravely  did  oppose  ' 

The  tears  of  woman  and  of  child 
Who  begg'd  he'd  leave  the  cows. 

*  Against  Sir  Hugh  Mountgomory 
So  nghttho  shaft  he  sett, 
The  grey  goose.,vi„g  that  was  thereon 
In  his  hearts  blood  was  wett.-  cLu  Cka.. 
The  queer  American  names  in  f  h„  .     . 

n.vm,cs  are  immortalized  by  Irving  ^''"'"'"'"^^  ^ocks,  whose  patro- 

t  [Who  kept  a  dramshop.] 


^i: 


9 


'C 


f  I        r    .„   ,  ^   -mm 

11%       t      -  -  :       m 
a      ■  I    "'«',      ^ 


244  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 

But  Wayne,  of  sympathizing  heart, 

Required  a  relief 
Not  all  the  blessings  could  impart 

Of  battle  or  of  beef: 

For  now  a  prey  to  female  charms, 

His  soul  took  more  delight  in 
A  lovely  Hamadryad's  *  arms, 

Than  cow-driving  or  fighting. 

A  Nymph,  the  Refugees  had  drove 

Far  from  her  native  tree, 
Just  happen'd  to  be  on  the  move 

When  up  came  Wayne  and  Lee. 

She  in  mad  Anthony's  fierce  eye 

The  Hero  saw  pourtray'd  ; 
And,  all  in  tears,  she  took  him  by 

The  bridle  of  his  jade.f 

"Plear"  — said  the  Nymph  — "Oh  great  Com- 
mander, 

"  No  human  lamentations ; 
"  The  trees  you  see  them  cutting  yonder 

"  Are  all  my  near  relations. 

"  And  I,  forlorn,  implore  thine  aid 

"  To  free  the  sacred  grove : 
"  So  shall  thy  powers  be  repaid 

'*  With  an  Immortal's  love  !  " 

Now  some,  to  prove  she  was  a  Goddess, 
Said  this  enchanting  fair 

•  [A  deity  of  the  woods.] 

t  [A  New-England  name  for  a  horse,  mare,  or  gelding.] 


great  Com- 


iV 


THE    OOW-CHASE. 

IIadWe.e.-reafromthe^^,,,* 
J»  all  the  pomp  of  war. 

That  drums  and  meny  fifes  had  plav-a 
To  honor  her  retreat:  ^ 

And  Cunningham  himself  eonvey'd 
i'^e  lady  thro' the  street.t 

Gyoat  Wayne  by  soft  compassion  sway'd 
lo  no  enquiry  stoops;  ^ ^' 

I^"t  takes  the  fair  afflicted  maid 
^'^^^  into  Yan  Van  Poop's. 

So  Roman  Anthony,  they  say, 

^.grac'd  th'  imperial  bann;r, 
And  for  a  gypsy  lost  the  day . 

L«ke  Anthony  the  tanner. 

The  Hamadryad  had  but  half 
Receiv'd  redress  from  Wayne, 

Came  down  the  road  amain.  ' 

All  in  a  cloud  ofdust  were  seen 

ihe  sheep,  the  iiorse,  the  goat. 
The  gentle  heifer,  ass  obscent 

Aiie  yearling  and  the  shoat. 

And  pack-horses  with  fowls  came  by 
Befeather'd  on  each  side,  ^ 

^'-nlard  o'     Lf  'j '^'^.  ^7"  ^-"-<i  out  of  the  ]l„os  as  ' 

^ei»^  York,  and  back  affaiii      Tf  fi,l  '     '^^  """^  continuallr  runnin,^  #« 

inercv."  —  4    n  "  ^*  "'"^7  ^ere  men   f  wf>..)-i  a      V,   running  to 

'"  L»en.  McDniio-nii .  n^.  ..     ,.  '^  "■'  '^'"^rican  lines  in  W^sfphr-f 

-•'o-*ii  ■  VV  JiiiepiaiiiM,  Jan.  'Ji    1779  •  sfcficstcr  county, 


245 


•—'.•'['asm 


24G  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR6. 

Like  Pegjisus,  the  horse  that  I 
And  other  poets  ride. 

Sublime  upon  his  stirrups  rose 
The  mighty  Lee  behind, 

And  drove  the  terror-smitten  cows 
Like  chaff  before  the  wind. 

But  sudden,  see  the  woods  above 
Pour  down  another  corps 

All  helter-skelter  in  a  drove, 
Like  that  I  sung  before. 

Irvine  and  terror  in  the  van 
Came  flying  all  abroad  ; 

And  cannon,  colours,  horse,  and  man. 
Ran  tumbling  to  the  road. 


Still  as  he  fled,  'twas  Irvine's  cry, 

.And  his  example  too : 
"  Run  on,  my  merry  men  all  —  for  why  ? 

The  shot  will  not  go  through  ?  " 

—  Five  Refugees,  'tis  true,  were  found 

Stiff  on  the  blockhouse  floor : 
But  then,  'tis  thought  the  shot  went  round. 

And  in  at  the  back  door.  — 

As  when  two  kennels  in  the  street, 

Swell'd  with  a  recent  rain, 
In  gushing  streams  together  meet 

And  seek  the  neighboring  drain : 

So  meet  these  dung-born  tribes  in  one, 

As  swift  in  their  career ; 
And  so  to  New  Bridge  they  ran  on  — 

But  all  the  cows  got  clear. 


THE  COW-CHASE. 

I*oor  Parson  Caldwpll  oii  • 

^o«,  41        ^*'*"weiJ,  all  in  wonder, 
^aw  the  returning  train  ; 

-=::tX.---^p-- 

For 'twas  his  right  to  seize  the  spoil,  and 

As  he  had  done  on  Staton-Island 
With  frost-bit  Alexander.! 

In  his  dismay  the  frantiek  priest 
Began  to  grow  prophetic: 

^Xed  taken  an  emetick. 

"I  v^w  a  future  day,"  said  he, 
Brighter  than  this  day  dark  is  • 

^ia.  ha!  one  pretty  Marquis4 

"And  he  shall  eome  to  Paulus  Hook 
And  great  atchievemonts  think  on  :' 
*  Kev,  James  Caldwell  of  Now  t 
ter-master  general,  whose  wife  wasS  '"  T''''  ^^'"'^  «"d  ^^Puty  quar 
«ol(herof  Knyphausen's  comma M  ;?,  ^"'''"^''^  ^'^''^^  ^y  *  newly  enllteJ 
provocation,  as  was  alleged  X-      '']'  ^'''''^'^S  summer,  on^o  otter 
dow  as  he  passed.    I„  eonte  "^  ^^  t' "'"P*^™^"^  ^"»  ^-™  Cr  tn 
d'ocese  including  Vermont,  w^es  a  Vo       '"'"'  ^'^^^P  Griswold  of  t^o 
detestation  is  frequent  menZ    '    .  ^*^»n'ngton  in  1818;  "With  wh«f 
woman  i^ewJeLy.    «u  tl'ar  ,7^""  ^^f'^'^  -tier's  ki^g'^,* 
.  y  0   Col.  F_,  ^,,     ,.„         Jt  e  onVpn   •"■;^"  ^^^  ''"^"^  «f  th«  barb.r- 

ot  through  the  breast,  and  instantiv  t^,  ?'^'^°"'  ^^^'^berately  aimed  a 
Mr.  Caldwell  was  himse  f  kHled  by  an  A  '  '''''  °^^  ^"''^^  ofieer?  '• 

proof  of  his  patriotic  zeal  S  L  r.      ''"'^"  '"^''''^'•'  ^ov.  24, 1781     T,, 

-e  to  Springfield,  he  eJnSS;::/btr  n'^  ^^"^"  ^^^^ 
::,J^-can  muskets.    "IH.  a  litr"^^:^:;:^-;---.!^ 

'^-KlSrl^n  "5^  'r  r^  ^^^'^"^^  -^  ^«  ^o  ^t,  Earl  of  Stirr   ^ 


247 


;»» 


248 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


And  make  a  bow,  and  take  a  look, 
Like  Satan  over  Lincoln. 


And  again : 


"  And  all  the  land  around  shall  glory 

To  see  the  Frenchmen  caper, 
And  pretty  Susan  tell  the  story 

In  the  next  Chatham  paper."  * 

This  solemn  prophecy  of  course 

Gave  all  much  consolation  ; 
Except  to  Wayne,  who  lost  his  horse 

Upon  the  great  occasion. 

*  Miss  Susannah  Livingston  (bom  1748),  the  governor's  daughter,  was 
suspected  of  political  authorship.  Perhaps  "  an  intercepted  epistle  to  Ta- 
bitha  from  New  York,"  dated  Aug.  27, 178C,  may  be  attributed  to  her: 

"  Sir  Hurry,  it  seems,  was  more  sullen  than  ever ; 
Ami  Andre  complainca  of  much  bile  on  the  liver." 

"  Alas,  my  sweet  sister,  I  cannot  but  fear 
That  something  not  £,ood  is  to  happen  us  hero. 
The  knight  he  is  either  involved  in  deep  gloom. 
When  no  one  hut  Andre  dare  enter  his  room,"  &c. 

Though  her  father  had  no  mercy  for  "  the  British  scoundrels,"  his  house 
of  Liberty  Hall  was  protected  in  the  invasion  of  June,  1780,  by  Lt.  Col. 
Gordon;  who  on  account  of  his  sister,  the  dowager  Duchess  of  Gordon  and 
her  husband  Gen.  Mon-is,  was  always  very  civil  to  the  ladies  of  Lord  Stir- 
ling's connection.  On  this  occasion  he  promised  safety  to  the  young  ladies, 
"so  amiable  in  appearance  as  to  make  it  scarcely  possible  to  suppose  they 
are  daughters  of  such  an  archfiend  as  the  cruel  and  seditiour  proprietor 
of  the  mansion";  and  in  token  of  the  same  was  presented  with  a  rose 
from  Miss  Susan's  ha.i.?  During  the  day  a  guard  was  kept  at  the  house; 
nevertheless  from  behind  it  (and  by  a  servant,  it  was  charged),  he  himself 
was  shot  through  tli-  thigh.  The  whole  business  figured  in  the  newspa- 
pers. This  was  the  same  Gordon  that  slept  so  soundly  at  riiiladelplua. 
He  got  into  trouble  in  this  expedition ;  was  tried ;  and  afterwards  insisted 
on  fighting  and  killing  Lt.  Col.  Thomas  of  the  1st  Guards,  who  had  testi- 
fied against  him.  Miss  Livingston  married  John  Cleves  Symmes,  tlio 
father-in-law  of  President  Harrison. 

Since  this  note  was  written,  I  have  seen  a  statement  printed  in  Riving- 
ton's  paper,  July  22nd,  1780,  denying  that  any  musket  was  fired  from  Liv. 
ingston's  house,  and  alleging  that  the  rose  was  bestowed  not  upon  Gordon, 
but  on  Colonel  Wurmb  of  the  Hessians. 


249 


THE  COW-ciIASE. 

His  horse  that  carried  o?I  i.- 
TTJo  »v,-i-.       ^'"^'t,u  all  his  prof*-. 
ilis  mihtavy  speeches,  "' 

iiis  corn-stalk  whiskv  fL  i  • 

J^est  this  same  warrio-drJver  Wov 
Should  ever  catch  the  roel!^"^"' 

^alv*.!.' '" Ti^r"  !!'■'  '^''  ^''-y-<^  was  brigadier  of  H      , 

"orwasw::;r,srCarfr^'-'^^^"^^^^^ 

l'o«'ever  tells  us  thatL         J  ''^  Pronounced  on  h k  r  V       ,^'"-  ^'  "•->; 

model :-"''''  ''  "  P«««'We  that  Andfd  here  lad    "^'  '^'''"  '^^  ''^'^^^  «f 

'^  *  P'''-"^"J«r  pair  as  a 

"^hen  the  opic  strain  was  Bun^ 
jao  poet  b^  the  neck  was  hll 

i''e  dung-born  tribo  decides  his  fato."        ' 

12 


■■««1«»»>,«1., 


*  '•'?^^^*5^Jilf"^S^t^'*Kt  *J5  - .  ^ 


f*. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Progress  of  Arnold's  Treason.  —  Condition  of  American  Affairs  in  1780.  — 
rians  for  Surrendering  West  Point.  —  Letters  between  Andr(S  and  Ar- 
nold. —  An  Interview  Concerted.  —  Andrd's  Last  Hours  in  New  York. 

The  secret  correspondence  with  Arnold,  begun  in  1779, 
had  at  an  early  stage  been  intrusted  by  Clinton  to  Andre's 
exclusive  management.  The  information  received  was  valu- 
able, and  often  highly  important ;  nor  was  it  long  question- 
able from  what  quarter  it  came.  In  an  elaborately  disguised 
hand  Arnold  wrote  over  the  signature  of  Gustavus,  —  a 
pseudonym  perhaps  suggested  by  the  romantic  story  of 
Gustavus  Vasa,  in  whose  love  of  military  glory,  undaunted 
boldness,  and  successful  revolt  against  the  unwonted  lords  of 
his  native  land,  he  might  persuade  himself  his  own  character 
found  a  counterpart.  On  the  other  part,  the  fictitious  name 
of  Anderson  was  but  a  transparent  play  upon  Andre's  own. 
The  accuracy  and  nature  of  the  intelligence  soon  gave  Clin- 
ton concern  to  know  with  certainty  its  author  j  and  once  sat- 
isfied in  his  mind  that  this  was  no  other  than  Arnold,  he  took 
his  cue  from  circumstances,  and  delayed  the  final  consum- 
mation until  a  period  when  the  loss  of  a  correspondent  so 
valuable  would  be  compensated  by  weightier  gains  than  the 
individual  defection  of  an  officer  of  rank.  Thus  he  continued 
to  receive  the  most  momentous  revelations  of  our  affairs ;  and 
it  may  possibly  have  been  that  through  these  means  a  knowl- 
edge was  acquired  of  the  condition  of  Carolina  that  led  to  the 
fiill  of  Charleston.  It  is  certain  that  his  slow  approaches 
after  landing  were  as  well  calculated  to  bring  reinforcements 
to  the  city  as  to  himself;  and  it  is  not  likely  that  Arnold  I 
could  have  borne  any  very  great  love  to  Lincoln,  who  had 


PROGRESS  OP  ARNOLDS  TREASON. 


Affairs  in  1780 

m  Andr<S  and  Ar- 
3  in  New  York. 


Bgun  in 


1779, 
;on  to  Andre's 
ived  was  valu- 
long  question- 
itely  disguised 
Gustavus, — a 
intic  story  of 
)ry,  undaunted 
^onted  lords  of 
own  character 
fictitious  name 

Andre's  own. 
oon  gave  Ciin- 

and  once  sat- 
U'nold,  he  took 

final  consum- 
I'respondent  so 
gains  than  the 
IS  he  continued 
ur  affairs ;  and 
tieans  a  knowl- 
that  led  to  the 
ow  approaches 
reinforcements 
y  that  Arnold 
icoln,  who  had 


.,.  251 

of  Ills  own  claim,  hvP  "'  «  J''""""-^  when  tlie  neWect 

expected  aid  from  wj""  ,"'"''"'■'■  "'^'"2^  "f  "'« 
'0  Sir  Henry,  .IhZZZl  7"°'"'"='"^  comn,u„ica,ed 
combined  operation  were  f.  h™  ,"'""  """  "''  P'»"^  of 
Kochambeau  until  Liv^I  TV  '  ^'  '^''"""='»»  «-"" 
«t  tl'e  time  by  Con..ress  film  .  '"«"-™'"ion,  concealed 

-de  known  f„  theCl    rnf^A  '  Z"  """''  ""'  "- 
v'.nce  tell  him  the  preci"  force  J  "  """"  ■""  '"  "d- 

of  action,  he  a.  leas?  ^  gl  /^  ^im  Ifw 'l-"'^"'^''  P'"" 
and  that  La  Fayette's  and  R^       v      ,   ^'^'"'"gton's  ruse, 

was  bnta  false  iffl  1  u„"  o^ttT  T \'''™™»  <''<=''"'«Ja 
3rd,  1780,  he  was  appo  n'ted  to  ,t°™  ""  '""•  «"  A"?"^' 
and  iu  dependenciesfand  it  wt  fT"",'  "'  ^^^'  P"'"' 
'"■»  treason  should  be  forde  Jo  ,^Z"^  °°"'"""^  ">»« 
ble  advantage  to  the  Sh  r'"'""'  "'*  ""«  greatest  possi- 

wea^  ofTiortL!::;- ^aTr::^- '''-  ^-^'^^  - 

with  America  on  almost      y  t   ms     "f  m'T'  '"  ^'^ 
dependency.     The  me«  1!  '"'«'>'  "»'  ''"volve 

days.echoed'lhe  toast  oT-aTI™  """"'  ^'  '"  ^^^'^ 
Tl.e  royal  officers  now  pled4  'a  ""i;  ""'* ''"■«»"«•'" 
of  our  present  unnatural  d1l,es-  ^"^^"^.r""""""""" 
America  too  was  tired  of  the  C  A  ?\"":  """''  '"'"d, 
Ike  best  authority  testifv  tn  ,1  ,        ""''  "^  *""esses  of 

0"r  people  bein^desimus  of  ''  'f' "^  "  "  '»«J°"'y  °f 
ofreunrtingwitlS,Tard™r,r''"''S  "»  quarrel.^nd 

of  mediated  dependence     tI  2      T  "'""'='  ""''"'  'f  "»' 

™-*--^^.*hfh:;r;^rbe::;zLd!::: 


4^' 


,; 

c- 

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4*      H      '    ' 

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2  *^<i'^ 

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['  "•? 

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I  "".« 

K." 

'-3Mi 

Im*., 

— 

252 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


on  the  verge  of  exploaion,  and  the  continental  paper  money, 
always  really  worthless  though  long  sustained  by  the  force 
of  laws  and  bayonets,  was  now  rapidly  approximating  its 
ultimate   value.     The  ranks  were   supplied  with   children, 
whose  service  for  nine  months  was  bought  for  $1500  apiece. 
Hundreds  even  of  the  staff  officers,  said  Greene  in  May, 
1780,  were  ruined  by  the  public  charges  they  had  been 
forced  to  incur,  while  every  obstacle  was  opposed  to  a  settle- 
ment of  their  accounts  lest  their  demands  on  government 
should  become  fixed.     "  However  important  our  cause,  or 
valuable  the  blessings  of  liberty,"  he  continues  to  Washing- 
ton, "  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  divest  ourselves  of  our  pri- 
vate feelings,  while  we  are  contending  for  them."  —  "  It  is 
obvious  that  the  bulk  of  the  people  are  weary  of  the  war," 
said  Reed  in  August.     "  There  never  has  been  a  stage  of 
the  war,"  said  Washington,  "  in  which  the  dissatisfaction  has 
been  so  general  and  so  alarming."     The  army  ill-paid,  ill- 
fed,  ill-clad,  avenged  its  sufferings  and  its  wrongs  by  such 
means  as  lay  in  its  hands.     Martial  law  was  published  to 
procure  its  supplies  in  states  that  had  not  a  hostile  ensign 
within  their  borders.     Regiment  after  regiment  rose  in  mu- 
tiny ;  nor  could  the  rope  or  the  scourge  check  the  devastation 
and  desertion  that  marked  the  army's  course.     At  this  very 
period,  despite  the  repeated  sentences  of  courts-martial,  and 
the  general  orders  for  the  officer  of  the  day  on  his  individual 
authority  to  flog  any  straggler  within  the  limit  of  fifty  lashes, 
we  find  in  Washington's  own  words  the  most  unwelcome  evi- 
dences of  the  necessities  of  his  followers  and  their  consequent 
marauds  along  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.*     Not  until  the  end 

*  Without  regard  to  the  question  of  the  soldier's  right  to  quit  a  service 
where  he  is  defrauded  of  his  pay  and  detained  beyond  the  term  of  his  en- 
listment, it  may  simply  be  remarked  that  at  no  time  were  the  lash  and  tlio 
cord  more  active  than  in  1779  and  in  1780.  The  many-thonged  and  knot- 
ted cat  which  cut  to  the  blood  at  every  stroke,  and  the  gauntlet,  where  a 
double  file  of  soldiers  anointed  the  culprit's  naked  body  with  blows  from 
one  end  of  their  lane  to  the  other,  were  in  constant  requisition.  Floggiiif,' 
went  bo3'ond  a  hundred  lashes;  and  sometimes  the  criminal  wixs  again  and 


of  August  «ns  llio  n„v  dur.  In  ,. 

Mmn  government  ^leMing  J^, ,  „^''^  ""f •''"'■''"  "'"n  East 
";o  other  was  stretehed  forth  T  Zd  "  "■""'^'""'"  «'"'o 

of  many  „,,„„  ,„  ,,,  'l^  rounder,  seemed  in  tl,e  fears 

w-h  mortifieation  and  regret  eon,"      J"  .'"""•     "-r  chiefs 
when,  unless  the  war  ,vas  c^' fed  '    l^  ""'  "V  ""l>ondi„g 
fo-isn  .reasure,  America  Zsttl  1'""''""  ""»P'  »"' 
™ops,  ships,  and  money,"  "^  ^  T".   "> '•'™»-    "  Send  us 
"but  do  no.  depend  upon  these  nont      """""■  •"  ■^'''gennes; 
^ot    t  was  known  tfat  the  afdof  I,""  "^"  ">»'>  «.^ans." 
-e-Wy  sporadic;  .l.al  their  toanee/ ™T  ""''  ^P"'"  '™ 
■"■'"ont  subsidies.     I„  17/^  ^mZ-  T^^"  ""'  ''°P'=  "^  P«- 
oW,  could  swell  the  taxes  of  F^L"    f ''  "Tf  ""■^'  "»  •"« 
l.e  lovted  from  24,000,000  of  pit  »  "C  ^''"'""".OOO.  to 
*»"  to  fear  that,  without  slf       '         ""=''''  *"'  "ow  rea- 

;™»t  on  the  other,  daily  widened  Z  "'1'  ''™'^'''"  »»■'  "i- 

"  Angus,  i,  threatened  Zl"'\T°^"'""'"'"^'''  ''^<'»d.- 

'''■^'v  the  warning  from  w    1  •  ""'""'  °^  ''^  Power  as 

P"Petrated,  he  qu^s^red I::!'""  '''■^'  ''  "»=  --d  we.: 

>s»i»  rc™„aed,  ,h..  „i,  ,„„     ,  "'""•'  "•''^  "»  "fflcer  in 

n  iTr^  '^"^  ^'»"^'^t  -  the  oh;  :  e^^'^-i^e  its  immediate  S 
»«^e/er.o«  (e./.  lH,u"  .rl'  *?f  J^^"^«  «f  ^he  enemy...  AH  !  l"'^'"!^*^ 


'S'l) 


■18<J9),  150;  JUS.Am.O.B. 


.223;  Zee 


254 


LIFIC  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


,"W' 


e  ■■     "HI 


1 .0  w|,ol,,  l,„c  ll,at  would  I,oU  n  commission  beyond  ihc  o„d 
ol  Ihe  camp„,s„,  if  he  did  till  then.     Suol,  J,,,,,  oven  in 
llie  most  .h.<,,otic  governments,  would  be  attended  with  loud 
eom,,la,„t,s."    Tbe  party  hostile  to  the  Chief,  deep-rooted 
New  Kngland  and  pervading  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Vir- 
gnna  wh.,1,  from  the  heginning  of  the  war  to  its  end  dreaded 
les  the  tyranny  of  a  Comraodus  should  lurk  behind  the  wise 
virtue,  uf  a  Pertinax,  though  foiled  in  a  former  effort  to  dis- 
place htm,  still  retained  ,K,wer  to  hamper  his  movements  and 
embarks,  his  designs.     It  was  very  evident  that  1^'"!; 
«o..  d  be  the  signal  for  the  nrtny's  dissolution,  and  the! 
table  subjeetion  of  the  infant  slate;  but  it  was  yet  feasible 

:„:"'"  :^r"■;"'  *"^  '"■-  -1"'-™e„ts,  and  in'a  hund"d 
«..ys  exhibit  a  distrust  of  his  eapaeity  or  integrity  that  would 
Imve  eaused  many  soldiers  to  throw  up  the  eomm^ind. 

Much  of  all  tins  was  known  to  the  British.     Their  intelli 
geneers  appear  to  have  existed  in  the  most  unsuspected  a 
dangerous  quarters;  and  at  this  very  epoe*  puWie  ofliee.s 

m  JNew  Yoik.  Such  was  Heron,  of  the  Connecticut  le»u 
lature,  who  left  West  Point  with  a  flag  on  the  30  .of  I-' 
gust,  and  was  probably  the  bearer  of  Arnold's  letter  of  ^  t 
date  to  Andre.  He  dined  with  Arnold,  parted  w^Th  hi  „ 
■a  day,  and  brought  to  the  English  leaders  the  most 'rpor 
•ant  oral  information  of  matters  in  the  Highlands  and  of  tie 
country  and  army  genemlly.    "  Mr.  Heron  is  eonaden     le 

:  r^neil  "ti """' ":" '"  "r  ^™" '  ^"^  «•-  "-'»"- 

tremrtvtha.  ■^"""'•^'""^  ""=  ^'i«  g.ea.er  weakness  of 
the  party  that  have  hitherto  fomented  the  troubles,  who  lose 
ground  eve,yday,and  divide  from  each  other.  MsuiZ 
«««.  are  for  peace  .M  Great  Bniain  ,  -,  ,/„  oli  f^,. 

The  reduction  of  West  Point  had  long  been  the  hope  of 

inLd7^  'k  "'  '°  """'"P"'''  "  *'"■<'"'  '»'»  »f  life  would 

ndeed  have  been  a  triumph  for  Clinton  and  a  most  brilliant 

conclusion  to  the  campaign.     Mr.  Sparks  has  clearly  mapH 


I  beyond  the  end 

an  act,  even  in 
tondod  with  loud 
if,  deep-rooted  in 
^Ivania,  and  Vir- 
'  its  end  dreaded 

behind  the  wise 
ner  effort  to  dis- 

movements  and 
that  liis  removal 
1,  and  the  incv- 
was  yet  feasible 
nd  in  a  hundred 
?rlty  that  would 
mmand. 

Their  intelll- 
nsuspected  and 

public  ollicers 
ing  our  affairs 
nnecticut  legis- 
e  30th  of  Au- 
!  letter  of  that 
d  with  him  on 
lie  most  irapor- 
nds  and  of  the 
i  confident  the 
m  the  internal 
r  weakness  of 
bles,  who  lose 
r.    All  subdi- 
e  old  founda- 

the  hope  of 

of  life  would 

most  brilliant 

early  mapped 


f-AXS  m  SOKRENDEmNG  WEST  POINT.         255 
out  the  ndvanta'res  h^  mM.f  u 

'"■Seney.    I„  ..,"0  L  ...^.L"!:"''"'';'"'"''  '"  ""'  - 
30  imporian,,  will,  all  ,  Tn  .„!.      °  ""I"'-'"""  of  a  fortress 

magnitude.     The  siumlie,  „„,,      I,  °^  ""  "Mon.Iary 

-re  ver,  groa,,  a:  '„'  tC  Zd     T",  ''  ""=  ^'»"'-- 
if  «t  all,  restored.    The  „ol  ?  ""  '"•"="  "^''•i^' 

^"Ivation,  an  American  GiW,"-   ''''''^'•"■■' "ur  ,o,ver  o"^' 
'0,000  strong,     ^^.e„,h„  ,„;"':  'T'^"'''"  "^  »"  """X 
"■™  yearsMahor  of  theT!  ^"'  ""«»'«'-''.  "-y  had  c.J 
«l.ough.  „„  unftii,!  IVe^^  "       ««'«»0-flO«i  and  were 
.e-cy.    Bnt  ...e  ulteCco    e"    L^^"  '""  '«!'  '- 
of  even  greater  iinnorf.nen      i^      ,  f       "■  Possession  were 
haveehecked  „,.  tl-ab^wee   ^Net  ;"?%'''"■  "™'^ '» 
;™l  and  southern  «ates.      ,?as^rJ"f  "''»?<' '''-'  «="- 
l»t  that  looked  this  cou,Z2ll^"^n"''°"'  ''^°'' "'" 
clNcfly  dependent  for  their  eor^-rr'      '^    ■  """""  '"""'' 
""ion, were commereial mthe.?.  """■  ^'^'o"  i"  'I'" 

and  the  power  tW  „  ""  agrieultuml  eomraunities- 

-^-ine.     Fr„™  Ca^idi^trior  I  Xld''"    •'"™"  "' 
fer  would  have  shut  out  New  Enl   „1  r  '''  '"'■""''  •""- 

'!"=  wallof  Antonine  barred  he  fr!        .  '"  '"PP"-^-'.  as 

from  the  Roman  colonies    'd,e  sou  ."of  "ff '''"'''"•"'•''"' 
orn  writer,  ridieulin,-  the  ide,  thT  "'"■     ^  '"'"'- 

Point  would  have  been   e,llv  t  7  ^'''''•"'  "^  ^«^' 

"im-lf  with  a  pietur!  o  hi^i  Xl  '  r"  ?""'™'  "'^"^ 
'"rning  out  for  a  week  ,0  .^^duettw,  ='""''  ^''"■"""■'y 
•"rning  ,0  their  farms  in  triulh  b!t  '  ^''""""  ""''  ■^• 
tioned  whether,  with  the  river  ,!  ""^  """  ''"  l"'^'" 

West  Point  could  ha  I  VlZuT''  """  "  '^'^  '^ 
month,  or  in  twenty  years  B„  .  .^  '"  "  '''*'  ""^  » 
of  less  moment  than  Ce  more  v^''"  advantage,  were 

der  D'Estaing  had  al Xle l™:;  ^^^  ^he  French  un- 
""3  hoped  (hat  similar  ill-blold  m  IT  •  ^T'"""'  I' 
«mp,  and  be  fanned  into  a  fl"!    t      "','"  '''•"''^""'eau's 

a  name.    It  was  shrewdly  and  cor- 


'3ii 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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niuujgicipiUL; 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.^*.  14580 

(716)  87i2-4503 


^V"^^  ^Xi"^ 


i- 


256 


LIFE  OF  AIAJOR  ANDR6. 


rectly  suspected  by  Clinton  that  the  allies  meditated  a  eom- 
biued  attack  on  New  York.     To  execute  this  movement  with 
West  Point  strongly  garrisoned  by  the  British  would  be  im- 
possible ;  and  nothing  was  more  likely  than  that  the  French 
should  have  all  their  jealousies  aroused  by  the  defection  of 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  American  generals,  and  the 
surrender  of  the  most  important  American  citadel,  on  the 
very  ground  of  repugnance  to  the  alliance.     Ignorant  of  the 
extent  of  the  plot,  it  would  be  difficult  for  them  to  repose  in 
conHdence  with  an  American  army  by  their  side,  and  a  Brit- 
ish before  them  and  in  their  rear.     Nations  get  experience 
by  such  examples  as  that  of  Count  Julian  on  the  field  of 
Xeres ;  and  the  failure  of  the  campaign  was  the  immediate 
contingent  result  of  Arnold's  success  ;  the  dissolution  of  the 
alliance  and  the  ruin  of  the  American  cause  not  a  remote 
one. 

It  was  supposed  that  Washington's  plan  of  attack  was  to 
advance  himself  upon  the  lines  at  Kingsbridge  and  perhaps 
menace  Stater.  Island;  while  the  French,  landing  on  Long 
Island,  should  threaten  New  York  from  that  quarter.    To 
meet  and  counteract  this  scheme,  Clinton  intended  to  receive 
the  surrender  of  West  Point  in  the  very  moment  when  Wash- 
ington should  have  fairly  resolved  on  his  designs,  gathered 
all  his  necessary  stores  into  West  Point,  and  set  his  troops  in 
motion.    Under  pretence  of  an  eipedition  to  the  Chesapeake, 
which  the  Americans  believed  was  on  foot,  the  English  ships, 
with  transports  of  a  peculiar  draught  of  water  properly  man- 
ned, were  kept  at  a  convenient  place  for  immediate  use ;  and 
the  men  destined  for  the  service  held  ready  for  embarcatiou 
at  any  moment.     Of  these  was  the  corps  commanded  by  Sim- 
coe,  from  whom  Clinton  did  not  conceal  his  real  designs,  and 
who  was  accordingly  busied  in  procuring  information. 

"  My  idea  of  putting  into  execution  this  concerted  plan  with 
General  Arnold  with  most  efficacy,  was  to  have  deferred  it  till 
Mr.  Washington,  cooperating  with  the  French,  moved  upon 
this  place  to  invest  it,  and  that  the  Rebel  Magazines  should 


PWNS  FOE  sraRENDEWNG  WEST  POINT.  257 

tave   been  collected  and  formed  1„  .1,  • 
particularly  tha.  at  Wet   Cnl  %!.?  T?"   "'=•""'' 
rendering  hfeself,  the  FoHs^^g.^  ^""^^   ""■ 

would  have  given  everv  adl  .     <^»™»J^.  at  this  instant, 

desired:  Mr.Va!h,W»  ™u.t  h''  "*"'  """  ""^  "-=«« 
King's  bridge,  and  the  P^  .  T  """""'^  ""'"^  f""" 
would  have Veniselt";, eft""'"  '"""  "^^  '^'^'^ 
ably  would  have  fallen  in  0  0^  h  ^""^7'''''  """  """■ 

«-harge  of  the  duties  o/CttS^.  7'""  "'"^^ ''''''•''•'•' 
Month  have  made  me  conl'de.t  "•"  "^^'^^  "  '"^ve- 

Inspravincial  to  a  1„ tr  i  '  ,  '"""  "^''^^  '"  •"■-"S'-S 
though,  there  was  .?.»':  Sfritt  T  ■"'""■■''"  ""'"p' 
torn  of  all.    To  remove  such  ilf  ^"  ""''  "'  ""«  >>»'- 

and  Pattiso„,.howent  0  „  uSl'''^^^^^^  ^''"'-. 
oral  information  from  Clinl  "f  !.'  7?^*' P™"''''''^  •»«= 
"•  The  details  were  not  v«  m  >.  rf-"*"™  ™'  -^c^rned 
'he  fortunes  of  the  11  S  ,  '"'^;'^  "''''"^'^  »°  P-Pe--  to 
0"  the  1st  of  September^,  TV"^  '»  these  generals, 

minister  that  he  iSnuCtld      '".'  "'''"^"""^'  ">  '"e 
intimates  that  goverlmenfml  i    °"  'h«  ^Ist  more  plainly 

Oenera,  and  IdmiXr^dLT  ^iH  '^T  f 

tl>eir  duty."    In  London  Z,.  f  ™"^  P"™<«^  to 

arrival  gave  out  that  i^,  "'?"  ""^  "■»  ""-^'^  o"  their 
.batnewlwtuMp^ltlr^  °Tr'*  '"^  ^--"-^ 
'ha.  would  ruin  tWo^tr  The  1""  "r™""''  "'-"' 
Andre's  death  came  in  indict  th?h^"  T  "^  ""'"«'  "' 
tmsted  with  and  referred  Ta  ?.-  '^  """  """^  *"«»  ''eon 
ana  referred  to  Arnold's  meditated  treason. 

t  MS.  Clinton,  De,p.3x  Aug.  trSO.    S.  P.  0.,  Rec.  M  Oo. 


ail . 


4L 


258 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR6. 


P'^'^'I'i: 


How  far  soever  the  secret  may  have  been  confided  in  the 
British  camp,  it  was  inviolably  kept  in  the  American ;  and 
while  Clinton  was  waiting  the  motions  of  the  allies  to  strike 
his  blow,  news  of  the  total  defeat  of  Gates  at  Camden  in- 
duced him  to  suspend  further  steps  till  it  appeared  what 
Washington's  course  would  be.     The  reports  of  his  spies 
and  the  force  still  reserved,  convinced  him  that  New  York 
remained  the  object ;  and  Arnold  soon  confirmed  this  conclu- 
sion.    For  various  reasons,  however,  the  plan  already  con- 
certed of  moving  upon  West  Point  was  abandoned,  and  other 
steps  resorted  to.     It  would  seem  that,  despite  Sir  Henry's 
language  lately  quoted,  there  was  yet  much  to  be  arranged. 
The  time  for  approach  and  surrender  might  indeed  be  settled 
in  the  mysterious  and  covert  phrase  of  the  correspondence 
between  Anderson  and  Gustavus ;  but  the  manner  of  attack, 
which  was  of  course  to  ti-rn  on  that  of  defence,  and  the  price 
of  the  performance,  could  not  be  so  easily  hit  upon.     From 
what  we  can  gather,  it  may  be  inferred  Arnold's  terms  were 
greater  than  Clinton  thought  reasonable ;  and  this  very  cir- 
cumstance may  have  induced  the  former  to  insist  on  an 
agreement  beforehand  with  an  authorized  agent.      On  the 
other  hand,  Sir  Henry  was  desirous  (inconsistent  with  the 
previously  concerted  arrangement  as  it  may  seem)  to  ver- 
ify Arnold's  identity,  and  to  settle  beyond  peradventure  the 
hour  and  means  of  his  appearance  before  West  Point.     He 
therefore  agreed  to  the  proposal  that  Andre  should  be  sent 
to  meet  him.     Meanwhile  the  correspondence  had  been  kept 
up ;  the  following  is  the  letter  that  was  perhaps  sent  in  by 
Heron :  — 

ARNOLD    TO   ANDr6. 

''Auffust  SOtk,  1780.— Sir :  On  the  24th  instant  I  received 
a  note  from  you  without  date,  in  answer  to  mine  of  the  7th 
of  July,  also  a  letter  from  your  house  of  the  24th  July,  in 

answer  to  mine  of  the  15th,  with  a  note  from  Mr.  B ,  of 

the  30th  July ;  with  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  J.  Os- 


rom  Mr.  J.  Os- 


to™  of  (he  24ih     I  h»         -J 

should  have  had  my  anslx',  ""'^ ''rived  earlier,  y„„ 
stances  ha,  p«v,„,f,  ^^^  ,,r>"-  A  variety  of  eir^" 
"»  ■«  very  f„„y  ;„  ,  (.,„  ™|  Jou  before.    I  expee.  ,„ 

v.e>v  wiih  Mr.  M ^  The?         '"^"'^  ^''"  «"  "'nter- 

J^o-  c„„,ereia,  plan,  I  hopll^Z^f^J^,,  """'. '»  -«'" 

M e  assures  me  that  he   s  S  „f      ■  " '  P""'"'^"    ^r. 

proposal  is  by  „o  means  unreM^  T'""  """  ^''  ««' 
x-henhe  has  had  a  confe^nTel^u'''' ''"^ ""''''«  "o  doube, 
""h  it.  He  expects,  when  vo„!^l  /?"'  """  >■»"  "■"  olose 
authorised  from  your  Hcu  J  ^,  '  """  ^"»'  •"■"  be  fully 
"-copartuershipVa^SX;     »;  f'T'^  »"■>  P-A'^  "f 

"A  speculation  mi^ht  auhr,       t"""'^  ■'"<'««to«l. 
advantage  with  ..c^/^  " ''Vt":  ""^  'l^''^  "««'''  'o  some 
"f  goods  at  n>arket  wleh  yTa'r  pa  .  ^  "  ""'  "'^  ""''"'''y 
"•«  number  of  speeulatorfb  ,oT  T  ,??'  '°  '"^I^^'  ""^ 
y«"r  making  an  immediate  piV   I  '  *""  "^  "S^"-' 
7"  "-^  "  g^eaier  plenty,  and  mur'.       "PP"'*™''  goods 
»f  the  season;  both  *y  a^d Tet^!      f"""""  "'^  «'--^« 
»>'""<'  at  this  juncture^  some  1„^-,  "*  ™"'»''  ""^  »  *- 
part  of  the  country  sooa     M,.T       '  7"  "^'^""^  »  «"- 
>»  the  course  of  ten  days  he  wHI  br~;t    """"^  ^''"'"^f'  that 
f"  .•  he  requests  me  fo  aSvle  1      I  "  P'""'"''  "f  »«"g 
*aft  o„  y„„  ,.„  f^^„^  „f;„f;';j?°;  .""=«  he  has  ordered  f 

«h'eh  you  will  charge  on  a^  „f  fT^  ® ^  '■»■•  "^SOO. 

hehalf  of  Mr.  M-i-e  &  r„    «•      ""  "'*"<^''-    I  am,  i„ 
servant,  ^•'  ""•'  your  obedient  humble 

"  !f^  "'°^"  Anderson,  Merchant,  Gusta VM. 

Mr.  0«s,ir^X-  ''^'"™^'  ""  "^  '^-^  -  '"^  Keverend 
Translated  from   i^^   « 


3!JI* 


260 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDRfi. 


fences;  and  had  written  again  on  the  15th,  when  the  project 
tions  connected  with  the  arrival  of  the  French  may  have 
been  mentioned.     The  terms  on  which  he  was  to  surrender 
were  also  doubtless  named.     To  these  Andre  had  replied  in 
two  notes;  and,  if  we  may  suppose  that  B.  stood  for  Beverly 
Robinson  and  J.  O.born  for  Sir  H.  Clinton,  communications 
irona  these  were  likewise  apparently  conveyed.     It  ^nay  be 
easily  gathered  also  that  the  present  strength  of  the  ganison 
both  in  militia  and  continentals  was  indicated;  and  that  the 
feasibihty  of  a  coup-de-main,  and  the  danger  of  the  troops  at 
Verplancks  retarding  such  an  undertaking,  were  suggested. 
It  will  be  observed  that  Gustavus  writes  as  agent  for  Mr 

^^ *"''  ^'»^e  the  dash,  and  we  have  Mr.  Me;  in  other 

words,  himself.  The  reader  will  recollect  Arnold's  old 
motto  — ^.ii  totique:  it  M'as  indeed  for  himself  that  be  now 
acted. 

In  this  letter,  the  demand  for  an  interview  with  a  confi- 
dential  agent  of  Clinton's -a  man  of  Arnold's  "own  mensu- 
ration   -with  Andre  in  fact -was  repeated:  and  Clinton 
agreed  that  the  meeting  should  take  place.     Several  fruitless 
efforts -two,  at  the  least -were  made  for  this  end.    In 
November,  1780,  it  was  said  in  Londou  that  Commodore 
Johnstone,  had  received  a  letter  from  Rodney  asserting  that 
Andre  had  twice  safely  met  Arnold,  and  had  even  acTed  as 
his  valet-de-chamhre:  and  that  the  miscarriage  was  due  to 
Clinton  s  hesitation  to  acquiesce  in  and  instantly  follow  out 
the  plans  then  arranged.     There  seems  little  foundation  for 
this  tale. 

Rodney  arrived  at  New  York  on  the  14th  September  and, 
taking  command  of  that  station,  readily  listened  to  Sir  Hen- 
ry  s  desires  :  — 

"At  this  period,  Sir  George  Rodney  arrived  with  a  fleet 
at  New  lork,  which  made  it  highly  probable,  that  Washing- 
ton  would  lay  aside  all  thoughts  against  this  place.  It  be- 
came  therefore  proper  for  me  no  longer  to  defer  the  execu- 
tion  of  a  project,  which  would  lead  to  such  considerable 


when  the  projec' 
rench  may  have 
was  to  surrender 
Ire  had  reph'ed  in 
stood  for  Beverly 
,  communications 
yed.  It  may  be 
li  of  the  gan'ison 
3d ;  and  that  the 
'  of  the  troops  at 

were  suggested. 
3  agent  for  Mr. 
r.  Me ;  in  other 
ct  Arnold's  old 
self  that  he  now 

w  with  a  confi- 
's  "  own  mensu< 
d :  and  Clinton 
Several  fruitless 
r  this  end.  In 
lat  Commodore 
7  asserting  that 
1  even  acted  as 
ige  was  due  to 
antly  follow  out 
3  foundation  for 

September  and, 
ed  to  Sir  Hen- 


J'ETTERS  BETWEEN  ANDRl?   Avn    . 

AJiDRE  AND  ARNOLD.  9fii 

advantages,  nor  to  Jose  so  fn.V 

rented,  and  under  so  good  a  1\"  "^^^""'^3^ ««  ^«s  pre- 

Chesapeake,  whieh  evefybodv  Z    '!, '''  '"P^''"«"  ^«' ^e 

place.     Under  this  feinfr  ^'"'^  ^'^"^^  «^ course  take 

North  River.     I  Ld     '     .TT^  '^^  ^  "°— ^  "P  t 

-d  General  KnyphausI"^  IZ^J'^'n  ^"  ^^«^^«  «o'«ey 

for  his  Majesty's  ?ervLe\v;^^^^  mL^^' :''  ''''  -' 

•andsomely  promised  to  give  meTv  '^'''''''^  ^^^^ 

h\8  power.  ^  '^  '"^  ^^ery  naval  assistance  in 

respondenTLrerfeilned  1«^  ^^^  ^^^^''^^  cor- 

carried  on,  should  be  rCdtr  Tn'^^'f  .^^«^  ^  ^^^  been 
person  being  General  ArnoTd.!  ''^  ''^'  ^"'^  ''  '"  ^^^ 
and  that  in  the  manner  fnTvhel^^^^^  ''  ^'''  I*-"N 

the  forts,  and  troops  to  me  I  n  T  *"  '""^"'^^^  ^''"^elf; 
concerted  plan  beUen  ^^  °:^,,'r  T'"^^^^  ""^^  « 
"Pon  this  expedition  should  be  nl  7  "  ^'"°'^  ^^^°P«  «^nt 
counterplot;  and  I  was  del '•  .^''  "'  "'^^  ^^  «"»•?"««  or 
hut  under  such  partici™;     "^  ^^  '"^'^  ^'^  ^"^"^^' 

^'^e  con;;;:o:s^^^^^^^^^^^^^  z:z '» ^  ^^^^  ^^-^^  -^ 

1777;  and  I  had  receded  L^  7  '  '''''"°  '^^^^  ^^^^^e  in 
General  Arnold,  "t  I'  "''  '"^^^""^  ^^^^  ^om 
"jeeting  should  be  held  with  Tha'  IT'^I^  "'''^^"^^  '^''  « 
P'an.  My  reasons,  as  I  Zve  I  Tf  ?'"^'"^  '^'  ^^^I- 
prove  the  propriet^of  suchlr  ^'"^'^  '^'™'  ^'"'  ^  t^^st, 
Arnold  had  also  lilZls  TT  '"  ™^  ^^^^^  «^»-a 
-  to  make  it  unneces  ary  J^;  rlet  ™"f  '^  "  ^^^^  ^^^^^^ 

"Many  projects  for  Y  ''''P'''''"  ^^^n'- 

quentlysL^rafa tempts  Cd?"^^  -re  formed,  and  conse- 
-Id  seemed  extrem^y  de'ro  '.  Th  t  "'"'  ^^"^''^^  ^- 
n>y  particular  confidence  JlX  ''™'  P^^^on,  who  had 
as  he  described  it  i„  wH^"  !^/  ''"'  '"  ^""^ '  ^^«°^«  »««". 
"  I  had  thought  of  T^'  -^  ''  ^'"^  mm.«ra^e,„. 

fon,  who  woullg  ad  ATrndelT  ''"  ^"^^^^^"^  ^--P" 
^---natl.^:rS^-r:S^^ 


262 


LIFE  OP  MAJOR  ANDR6. 


prevented  him  from  ensamnfr  in  it     P^^nn.  i  a      . ,  « 
insisted  ihnt  iu  'b"o'"o  in  it.     l^enera!  Arnold  finally 

Adjutant-Gcneral  Major  AndnS,  who  indeed  had  be™  .k! 

on  the  «^st  Hde  of  the  Hudson  ,  and  he  notiflcrSheldort' 
commander,  that  he  hoped  to  encoun.,.r  V„  .v-  ' 

valuable  emissary.    Of  this  t^  Z?i  .       •  f""  T""""  " 
3rd  of  September     n,  /  ™  '°'^™*'^  ""•  *« 

«...  .e  4uid  comT:!tV:t^trim^~:p^r" 

ANDERSON   TO    SHELDON. 

permitting  me  ^'e^^^-nl  ;in;;;tn™  IS 

rbi^^to-tK-Tsfur ''"'?-  -- 

12  o'clock  whPn  T«wi  K   7        Sunday  next  the  11th  at 
-s  ociocK,  When  I  shall  be  happy  to  meet  Mr  fi      qk^  u 

made,  can  speak  on  the  affair. 

.o  fh:^::t.™reer;,f:r::e :L:fr:-r  ^^^^^^^ 

.hat  the  publio  on  neithe'r  side  ean^XX^^  "  ""'"" 

to  yo'ut  a  famT.;:  """  "^  "'  ""'"^  ""^  «  "'  '''-^'- 

1  trust  1  shall  not  be  detained  but  should  any  old  ernd™ 

be  a  eanse  for  it,  1  should  „.ther  risk  that'han  n'^^.tl 

*  Ctaton  to  lord  G.  Gcnnain.  -  Spark's  ArnoH,  168. 


»1  Arnold  finally 
I  him  should  be 
i  had  been  the 
5d  on  the  secret 

as  John  Ander- 
■k,  should  meet 
d  North  Castle, 
led  Sheldon,  its 
this  manner  a 
iformed  on  the 
letter's  plan  to 
le  arrangement 
wn  aside.     On 
■ote  to  Sheldon 
m  outposts. 


yoT  li„-es  by  stcam.    I  am  w.U  ^n^**'  have  advised  ge.  ,o 
Wo  sert.  ""  "'">  »"  regard  Yr.  most  hum- 

John  Anderson. 
This  letter  ratlier  surnrised  <!i,.ij 
"»n>e  had  not  before  beeT  1  .*"."' '"  "'"""  Anderson's 
o"Jec.  of  putting  ArnoIdTa  inZ'  'f  "  ""^o-"  "' 
'"•nsmitted  to  him.    He  ZtMrT^T  *"'  "  '™  »'  <»'™ 
™»p.cion,  and  directed  thTtif^?''  "  "•'«  "> '''«'™  ""r 
feldon-s  post,  notice  shodd  I  re'tT"   f""'"  """^  <» 
'[■e  supposed  intelligencer  escorted?  I  r  ''^  "P'»»3  and 
'ho  same  ,i„e,  «„  The  alCirj",''''  ''^l-l-arte...    At 
l"s  post,  1,0  resolved  to  seek  C^^n  •     """"'  """"""'d  ""h 
'■"'«  «nd  place.    He  8^001  f^w  "«""'  "'  "■»  "PP^inted 
0"  the  afternoon  of  the  lol         ^T  ^'"■'"  '»  ''i^  l.»rge 
SmiA's  house;  and  orthe  mo  „fn?1  111"'  '"^'"  «'  J-""" 
nmeteen  miles  ,„  Dobb^  f""     1°*^  **  ""■  d-'^^nded 
Kobinson  to  receive  C         ^'  """"'  ^■«'™  »«"ed  with 

4-P*X  Vi^nf  t-^  "^--'"^  -*..     H. 
to  Washington,  whose  mS^,n^  ^'^'  *"'  ""  »»rfy '™nd 
■"language  that  is  yet  remembered'  ™rb'  ''  """P'™-''' 
to  a  great  heiress  of  the  d,v  T    /      '""  ""'  ™a'-ried 
PWlipse,  and  with  her  acouired'lnl     ^"^''"'  "^  ^'^^"^^ 
At  his  house  Washingtrh^ 'T  T""  °"  ""^  H""^"- 
J-cunger  sister  and  coleiressHT    "      '""S""  ">  "»  «■« 
lands,  t«ro  mfe  fr„„  W^t  Pnl^  IT"""^-"^"'  "  ""«  High- 
river,  was  a  We  and  T,^         "'  °"  ""^  «ast  side  of  the 
P'easant  orcha.^^  and  gardenr"/"'"""^  '""^'^^^  t 
^"OT-    TheAmeril^  nerlls  "!  T'™"^  "^  »'""™^ 
e«y  since  its  o„ner  was  "  Vrth:""=  "''  P""'"  P^P" 
to  use  it  as  their  own  •  it  „„!  "      .   ^  """"''  ""«  "ont 

J-i.ing.on-s  i.ead.,:arte;.''Vb?re^n"'/  ""'  ^"^  "^ 
Of  an  entertainment  ffiren  «f  Po." T  i.     P'«asant  anecdote 

«ot  long  before  his  delt"     aII-    ' ^''''^^^  *^  ^^ ^^^-«« 

'•     ^'"^'••cans  and  others  were  pres 


264 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


ill 


ent  who  had  served  in  our  war.  At  supper,  the  guests  were 
led  into  a  strange,  large,  low  apartment,  like  a  farmhouse 
kitchen,  with  one  window  and  many  small  doors.'  On  a 
rough  table  were  arrayed  large  dishes  of  meat  and  pastry, 
bottles,  glasses,  silver  mugs,  &c.  They  gazed  in  surprise, 
and  memory  faintly  struggled  to  recall  the  scene,  till  La 
Fayette  suddenly  cried  out,  "  Ah,  the  seven  doors  and  one 
wmdow,  and  the  silver  camp-goblets  such  as  the  Marshals 
of  France  used  in  my  youth !  We  are  at  Washington's 
head-quarters  on  the  Hudson,  fifty  years  ago  I » 

Robinson's  circumspect  and  cautious  character  were  thou^^ht 
needful  to  check  the  buoyancy  of  his  comrade,  and  he  was 
likewise  fully  acquainted  with  the  pending  negotiations.  In- 
deed it  was  probably  through  him  that  Arnold's  first  over- 
tures  were  made.  But  the  large  acquaintance  and  interests 
he  had  in  the  region,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  country,  made 
his  presence  additionally  desirable. 

The  interview  was  to  occur  on  the  east  side  of  the  river 
at  Dobb's  Ferry;  but  as  Arnold  drew  near,  one  of  those 
circumstances  which  the  pious  man  calls  providence  and  the 
profane  calls  luck,  prevent3d  an  encounter  that  must  in  all 
human  probability  have  resulted  in  the  consummation  of  the 
plot.     Some  British  gun-boats  were  stationed  at  the  place 
which  opened  such  a  fire  on  the  American  barge  that  Ar- 
nold, though  twice  he  strove  hard  to  get  on  board,  was  put 
m  deadly  peril  of  his  life  and  obliged  to  fall  back.    How  this 
came  to  pass  without  Robinson's  intervention  we  cannot  im- 
agine; for  it  is  impossible  but  that  an  intimation  from  him 
would  have  caused  the  firing  to  cease.    Or  had  he  repaired 
with  Andre  and  his  flag  to  meet  the  solitary  barge  that  evi- 
dently belonged  to  an  officer  of  rank,  an  interview  might  at 
once  have  been  effected  in  the  most  plausible  manner  in  the 
world.     The  circumstances  of  the  case  would  have  rendered 
It  easy  for  Arnold  to  publicly  say  that  he  would,  since  they 
were  thus  thrown  together,  waive  the  prerogative  of  rank  that 
otherwise  might  have  induced  him  to  refer  the  enemy's  fla<^ 


"I-^ 


TLAKS  KOB  AN  INTERVIEW  WITH  .bkoLP.       204 

.c«  for  oven  „  pr~  ^1?.^ ?r  ""  "  "='"'^  "'*■ 

fblWed,  Arnold  "1^  '"?,;  A  "•'  '""'"  "'  ■«='"«  ">„, 
.bore,  above  .l,e  fel  1  I""""'""  »""  °"  "''  '^«^' 
but  no  flag  came     H' .        ,     '  '^"'"'"'^<'  ""  '""-J"™-- 

"•Tibuted  ,0  K^nev  '1^1''  r'""  """  "'»  ""'»"»'" 
•»re.      At  all  evelT"  ''"'\'"'<'  "»  "■^'-a'  foundation 

i'o.Hand  b"i^LtrdrKr-r-»  tt 

ure  of  the  meetino-  o»n  ,.ni    u  ^'^'     ^^^  *a'l- 

".at  .be  ^^AZnZt::::7t  vr:'^'-' 

ferry  when  Arnold  was  flred  TLT      ?.""'  '"'"''  "^  "■« 
season.    Tbey  could  hJ»    u      ?    ™""  ■""  '"'"f""  '" 

its  boat  wa,  tZ    to TuLtTo  aI"  ""  "1''"'"'^='  ''"- 
^id  .  rar  and  .  vl^orou^rr^.t^S;  ^^^ -job  " 

«»:  -^T  -  - -f  tn^d  r  td:^ :: 

reasons  to  give  &f  ever JTTT  ""''  '''  ''^  P'""-"" 
raeeting  mns    now  be  7      ''.''°  '""'  ""'*"•    »"'  «  "ew 

)<nown°.b7cbierwo„,d  r^H  "  *  """"^"'  "•'■^"  "  ™ 

;«  n.eet  KocbJntrIt  '4:^^."^ ^"^3.:  .T:  T 

was  needLr  And^  b/"'''' .f  ''™'''^  ">"'•    T'"'  ■=»"«"» 

Marbois  /who  is^^f  °"  "  ''""''■  •''"=^-  Recording  .„ 
known  to  1)  Clinl  rr^"""*""'"'  •'yanyauthorfues 
unless  tt  etLaJ^S  !„rl"d  "  ""'"^  '""•"^''  ^""-M  '"at 
stances  mtbt  preventTrt  ""'  'P'"""'^  """'^'  "™°'- 

«plied  (0  this  effect:!  *"  '"'  ^""Jance.    A,-noId 

»be''e^"^n.;:ntlrf  °  '  •  '"='  '^  ''  ""  "«  ■"-•    J'  -- 
pendant  cnq  a  s.x  jours :  profitons  pour  arranger  nos 


Itv! 


266 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


affaires  du  temps  qu'il  nous  laisse.  Vcnez,  snns  delai,  mo 
trouvcr  aux  lignes,  et  nous  reglerons  ddfinitivement  les  risquos 
et  les  profits  do  lu  societe.  Tout  sera  prfit ;  mais  cette  en- 
trevuo  est  indispensable,  et  doit  preceder  I'exp^dition  de  notrc 
navire."  • 

Hardly,  however,  had   the   discoraflted  and  disappointed 
Andre  returned  to  New  York  when  events  took  a  new  turn. 
There  was  no  longer  room  for  doubt  that   the  negotiation 
would  be  speedily  and  thoroughly  elFeeted.     The  chosen  few 
to  whom  the  secret  was  known  were  elate  with  anxious  joy ; 
and  even  they  who  knew  not  the  cause  could  not  but  reflect 
in  their  countenances  the  satisfaction  of  their  leaders,  and  the 
belief  that  at  length  irreparable  injury  was  to  fall  on  the 
American  cause.     "Let  the  Whigs   enjoy  their  temporary 
triumph,"  wrote  one  of  the  best-informed  loyalists  about  Clin- 
ton ;  "  I  would  have  them  indulged  in,  as  I  really  think  it  is 
one  of  the  last  they  will  enjoy."     Tradition  relates  that  there 
were  not  a  few  who  believed  that  Andrd  was  engaged  in  an 
affair  that  was  about  to  ripen  to  a  head,  and  from  which,  if 

•  Coraplot  d'Amold,  &c.  91.    Marbois  was  in  1780  secretary  here  to  Lu- 
zerne's legation,  and  for  long  after  French  Consul-General,  and  Charge    He 
was  of  studious  and  reflective  habits  and  sound  parts.  John  Adams  thought 
him  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in  France.    Gen.  Cnss  says  no  foreigner 
ever  understood  us  so  well,  and  few  Americans  better.    His  opportunities 
were  good;  his  intimacy  with  the  leading  men  of  the  day  gave  him  knowl- 
edge of  their  views  about  Arnold,  whose  business  was  constantly  discussed 
by  the  allies.    All  of  Arnold's  papers  too  were  seized,  both  at  West  Point 
and  Philadelphia,  and  apparently  scattered  in  various  hands.    Perhaps  he 
may  thus  have  had  access  to  information  or  documents  now  unknown 
Certainly  some  of  his  statements  are  not  easily  reconciled  with  the  current 
history  of  the  time ;  but  it  is  incredible  that  he  should  give,  with  quotation- 
marks,  translations  of  letters  that  had  no  existence  but  in  his  own  imagin- 
ation.   "Marbois  writes  tittle-tattle  and  I  believe  does  mischief,"  wrote 
Jay  from  the  French  court  in  1783.    The  speeches  that  he  puts  in  the 
mouths  of  some  of  the  chief  actors  under  circumstances  that  render  it  ira- 
possible  they  should  have  been  reported,  has  license  in  long  established 
historical  usage.    Every  author  of  a  certain  school  feels  at  liberty  to  use 
us  hero's  tongue  as  freely  as  Homer  used  those  of  Greeks  and  Trojans. 
Ces  coquins,"  said  Cond^  to  De  Retz,  "nous  font  parler  et  agir  conune 
Us  auroient  fait  eux-memes  a  notre  place." 


The  a 


z,  sans  delai,  mo 
ement  Ics  ri.squos 
;  mais  cctto  en- 
p^dition  de  notre 

md  disappointed 
took  a  new  turn, 
the  negotiation 
The  chosen  few 
ith  anxious  joy ; 
(1  not  but  reflect 
leaders,  and  the 
I  to  fall  on  the 
their  temporary 
lists  about  Clin- 
really  think  it  is 
jlates  that  there 
engaged  in  an 
from  which,  if 

cretary  here  to  Lu- 
I,  and  Charge.   He 
)hn  Adams  thought 
8  saj's  no  foreigner 
His  opportunities 
y  gave  him  knowl- 
Dnstantly  discussed 
>oth  at  "West  Point 
ands.    Perhaps  he 
ts  now  unknown, 
i  with  the  current 
i^e,  with  quotation- 
n  his  own  imagin- 
I  mischief,"  wrote 
It  he  puts  in  the 
that  render  it  im- 
long  established 
at  liberty  to  use 
ieks  and  Trojans. 
it  et  agir  comme 


F"Jing  f.„e.    N„  bcl^J  vl:,' '"  r"  ""»  "' '-  "«-l^  ™- 
fvil  to  his  plans  .  „n,i  ,i.,7  •  """"S  ""'^'""^  presaged 

«..cnda„ts'b"„  :,rl'     'ZT"  T"'"''  "'■«'"  '»» 
n      .  •       " 7"o'"  such  provident  advices  n^  <i;n  r-  i 

Courts  received  from  l,is  faithful  s,,,,™'^  T^t  i^'"", '" 

my  heart  tells  me  sooth  il,„.  if  '""'' ''"'"'  """ 

c-  will  retorn ,  that  y„„  t,  1  „r  '""°"'''"'  '''"■"»'■•  ^O"  ""v- 
remain  i„  prf  „„  "   Tl  f   '""':  I^™''  "'«'•«.  or  you  will 

"■'^  -.  ho-'ap  :„  to  Wet^titZu^'"^  "»--'"« 
even  more  fi-eclv  than  „«,..i  .  ,    "'"  P'^'^>"S  «ccnes  entered 

Madame  do  B  de  Te.rntl"  K  •'".  '"'""""''  "'  "'"  Placc. 
fion,  Clinton  Td  hL  7  .  "'"^  "•"  ""''  "'"'  ■'''■"'ived 
Nor  was  tir ;:  i  ;l™,  •"'  *f  ■'^*-  '-  Oeparturo. 
is  Iho  „„a|lurin»  and  cmwTd  •  7u?  """^  '"  ^>'»'  ^«'^ 
»nd  34th  Stree"  st«d  "l  "1 1"°  """"'•"'^  "^  ^"'^  Avenue 

irv-seal  of  T„!  L      ,1      ^'^^  ""'  »"«!<">'  *»w™  or  eoun 
iryseat  ot  Jacobus  Kp.    Built  in  icii     e  u  ■  , 

fem  Holland,  encompassed  hi  T  '    '  '"'"'"S'" 

viowofthespUhngCtelter  ""\^  """  "'  ^"^^ 
the  mansion  remained  evtr?       ^       ^^°"  ""^  ^''^'  ^'"'<", 

of  its  founde.'s  hn  H  1"  Idr™  "■■""  '"  P<"'^'™" 
.hose  appearance  had  rr,  .'  f™'  '""'"^  """"-J""' 
DrearaeHntte  fabulous^      T, '^  "'"  ''«'"'"'f  Oloffe  the 

'He  g..ves  ttt  rhofr^al'^th^'T' J-"'  "'■""'"'''»<' 
Kip's  musketoon,  when  th„,      \       """"*■•  "^  H^-lri^k 

^  the  sur^undi  g  X  '^;;f  VT""  '""*  •■''  "-" 
neighborhood,  Kip's  ZZ   l/iT  ^«>'""g'<'n  -as  in  the 

Ho«e  e^ssei  ftl  W  itund^:  f  7-'-;  «Be„ 
1"6,  he  debarked  at  ,L  I  ™.S™day,  Sept.  ISih, 
skirmisher  drovTi"   "  IT  ^  T  "'  '"'''^  l"^'  ""»  W. 


2C8 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRt. 


they  had  always  an  officer  of  distinction  quartered  with  tnera  . 
and  ,f  a  part  of  the  family  were  in  arras  for  Congress,  as  is' 
alleged,  it  is  certain  that  others  were  active  for  the  crown 
Jacobus  Kip  of  Kipsburgh  led  a  cavalry  troop  of  his  own 
tenantry  with  great  gaUantry  in  Do  Lancy's  regiment ;  and 
despite  severe  wounds  survived  long  after  the  war,  a  heavy 
pecuniary  sufferer  by  the  cause  which  with  most  of  the  land- 
ed gentry  of  New  York  he  had  espoused. 

On  September  19th  Colonel  Williams  of  the  80th,  then 
Dilleted  here,  gave  a  dinner  to  Clinton  and  his  staff  as  a 
parting  compliment  to  Andre.    How  brilliant  soever  the  com- 
pany,  how  clieerful  the  repa.  ,  its  memory  must  have  ever 
been  fraught  with  sadness  to  both  host  and  guests.     It  was 
the  last  occasion  of  Andre's  meeting  his  comrades  in  life 
i^our  short  days  gone,  the  hands  then  clasped  by  friendshin 
were  fettered  with  hostile  bonds;  yet  nine'days'mor  ,  a 
the  darling  of  the  army,  the  youthful  hero  of  the  hour  had 
dangled  from  a  gibbei.  ' 

It  was  recollected  with  peculiar  interest  that  when  at  this 
banquet  the  song  came  to  his  turn,  Andre  gave  the  favorite 
military  chanson  attributed  to  Wolfe,  who  sung  it  on  the  ev 
of  the  battle  where  he  died. 

» 

"  Why,  soldiers,  why 
Should  we  be  melancholy,  boys? 
Why,  soldiers,  why. 
Whose  business  'tis  to  die ! 
For  should  next  campaign 
Send  us  to  him  who  made  us,  boys, 
We're  free  from  pain : 
But  should  we  remain, 
A  bottle  and  kind  landlady 
Mokes  all  well  again." 


find  a 

(compi 

Andre 

now  ac 

king,)  ] 

from  D 

sloopoi 

At  1 

fi'om  A 

the  rive 

King's  ] 

planck'ti 

dexterou 

presence, 

»vas  recei 

I'ead-qua 

As  Li^ 


lartered  with  tnem ; 
for  Congress,  as  is 
ive  for  the  crown. 
^  troop  of  his  own 
y's  regiment ;  and 
'  the  war,  a  heavy 
I  most  of  the  land- 

of  the  80th,  then 
md  his  staff  as  a 
nt  soever  the  corn- 
s' must  have  ever 
d  guests.     It  was 
comrades  in  life, 
ped  by  friendship 
3  days  more,  and 
of  the  hour,  had 

that  when  at  this 
gave  the  favorite 
ung  it  on  the  eve 


}'»» 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Hell  SmiU.  selected  as  ArnolS',  Me.lge^    '"'""  '""  ^'»»'''-Jo>l.u. 

Arnold.  On  (he  16(h  ^7  ^^  ^mmnnications  from 
«»  .bo  Vulture,  Ld  ,haft;T  71 "'""''"  ""'  "P  "^  "^er 
"ntimely  imrl^yl^V^  ,t  "7  ""™  should  be  no 
".easarably  instructed  in  ,vha(  ZZ  ' '"  "=»""»"'>''«■•  ^^ 
"ight  be  derived  from  nlme  T  f  ,"^  ""'  ^''  ="y  o™"" 
»Wp  for  the  enterprir  ShThel'elA*  H  ""  "  *"'""="« 
M  against  our  privateers  a„r,f  .f  been  very  success- 
find  a  band  of  pri  ™„e"  s'ol    ^'T^"'  ^""^  '«''<"•«  "« 

(^^pusingnoto^rr^ekb^edH       '^""f  "^  ^'"»'' 
Andre  had  deliW,ted  tn  ?"""*?  ^ome,  ,n  whose  tragedy 

.0.  active  forr,!  tltr  :„d  r'"'  '•"'  '^'"'^'^^"• 

th"  river,  the  Vulture  came  ,„  T"^  """"^  "^  ^7  <>f 
King's  Ferry  and  careeTvl  ■■  r"'  "'"""  ^"^^  ^'^  <>( 
PlanckV.  and  Stony  S^^'''^'  ''^  *^  ™*^  of  Ver- 

^-.orouslyco„ve7^';rma.":rat  Ta°"  u'  "'" 
presence,  and  his  readine«  .„    vi.u  °   °  ^'^""^^  of  li« 

«  received  a.  V^ril- .J  r    "  '''^""■'"''""-    ^'^  '^«<'^ 

k»d-o.uarter.  severS  its  ,ble '™=""'"'  """  ''''"™'^»''  '» 

''■'"°"'™  "'"^"^  ■"■  '""»■■-'  though  an  „„.,uti„„ 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 

part  in  the  ruin  of  the  plot,  he  may  briefly  be  noticed  here. 
He  was  the  same  officer  who  under  Montgomery  had  borne 
so  active  share  in  the  capture  of  Andre's  regiment  at  Cham- 
bly ;  an  amiable,  well-informed  young  man,  perfectly  familiar 
with  the  French  tongue.     He  now  commanded  the  chief  out- 
post of  West  Point,  a  work  of  unusual  construction,  planned 
by  Gouvion,  and  hardly  to  be  reduced  without  time,  trouble, 
and  heavy  artillery.     Hither  he  was  ordered  with  his  regi- 
ment on  August  4th ;  the  next  day  after  Arnold,  under  who^se 
command  he  was  placed,  had  been  sent  to  West  Point.   Chas- 
tellux  remarks  on  a  breakfast  the  Colonel  gave  him  of  beef- 
steaks, tea,  and  grog:  his  larder  being  as  illy  supplied  as  his 
men's  wardrobe,  who  were  sent  in  because  they  were  the 
worst  clad  troops  in  the  army,  «  so  that  one  may  form  some 
idea  of  their  dress." 

Several  persons  were  dining  with  Arnold  when  Robinson's 
letter  was  brought  in.     Carelessly  glancing  over  it,  he  put  il 
in  his  pocket,  and  without  secrecy  mentioned  its  contents 
which  nominally  were  to  ask  an  interview.     Among  the 
guests  was  Colonel  Lamb,  the  second  in  command,  who  also 
had  taken  part  in  Andre's  capture  at  St.  Johns,  and  whose 
jaw  was  broken  by  a  musket  ball  with  Arnold  before  Quebec. 
He  was  too  a  good  French  linguist,  and  of  much  professional 
skill,  but  of  restless  genius  and  a  bad  temper,  said  Mont- 
gomery; brave,  active,  and  intelligent,  but  very  turbulent  and 
quarrelsome.     He  now  urged  solid  reasons  for  refusing  Rob- 
inson's  request,  pointing  out  to  Arnold  the  occasion  such  an 
interview  would  give  for  suspecting  improper  communica- 
tions;  and  not  resting  satisfied  with  a  promise  to  consult 
Washington  on  the  matter  till  he  had  ascertained  from  both 
parties  that  the  question  was  made  and  answered.     Arnold, 
however,  showed  Robinson's  letter  to  Washington  on  the 
evening  of  the   18th,  as  they  crossed  together  at  Kin-^'s 
Ferry ;  and  great  must  have  been  his  chagrin  at  the  pos- 
itive  terms  in   which   he  was  advised  of  the  impropriety 
of  the  chief  commander  of  a  post  meeting  any  one  himself. 


ROBINSON  SENT  TO  ARNOLD. 


271 

'he  cVil  authorife.  uj  ?°  ""*  ''"™^«»  """t  pertained  to 
'han  I  had  of  mvseif  ••  said  1  vT-°  '"'P'"""  »<"  Arnold 
discourse  beins  r.h.  ^'*'  ""  ™'»«»S  ">«•    This 

f™mas,ep:rp,:;;''',,.f~;^^^^^^^^^  *--god  ht: 

There  were  se<.»li  .'^'"""'^  "  by  his  superior, 
noticed  without  utiTtr''"""'  '"  ""'^  "'-f  voyage, 
recalled  with  feaXTiXlcro ''''"''' ""^ ''"^'>™^^ 
siness  when,  after  careMy  ^aiin^T  ""'  "^""'^  ""■=«- 
!>«silion  of  the  Vulture  wLh  w  f  '  '"'""  '"°'»^'«'  "■« 
•-  tone  gave  an  ortoTr  tafe  „  "'  I''  ^'  ""<■ '"  " 
I'm.    Hi,  words  were  inaudM.  ,    .["""*  '°  """^^  "'^"^^ 

"ore  palpable  was  his  conff.'        ,      ^  **"  '"""Joe'-    Still 
Ito  andlid-«  G^J^"["!'™  "hen  ^^  l^«yette  turned  to 

"pondencewith  the  enemy  vt  It  ™°'  ^?''  ''*'"'  "  «>"«- 
*  what  has  became  rf 'She„  -  --T.  ''"  k"  "°"  "^  P"^" 

^^^^tj^rz  r  t""  "'^^  --""- 

-Wit  was  :reZZZi'Z:Vl^  f^-^^™- 
and  hasty  manner  he  »hn,.„.i     ,  "^^    ^"  *  confused 

-ant  by  his  remark  •  bu  t  ^,  """"""'''  "''«  ^^  ^'Jette 
he  subsided  into  si^e  e  "  .^  ""T'  ''""'^^S  '"'"^^'f' 
of  the  scene  came  „  tt  f>  ™'''  """  ""''  «■«  """esses 

'hought  all  wrCwnL™'?"" /'■'''  <■"  '"«  =->«■■'  "e 

But  no  such  thing  ^s  dr^  UH  ""rv"  ""=  ^P"'" 
suue  passed  trannnaiv  „„  .uT-  Washmgton  and  his 

'hen,  as  far  as  Pe'eSl,  "w  et^h?!:/™""  accompanying 
ception  and  where  he  and  T  ^  V>«y'm  for  thei.-  re- 

September  IStlThT    ';'''"''.''  "'«'"-gb' of  Monday, 
each  on  his  own  course-.h '  „"T"I  ""^  ^"'^  ''«««'«'      ' 
'0  West  Point.    Thirw^  the  ,»?"  ''""'""''  ">»  »"«^'  '«'«k 
ing  the  man  who  had  dTI'  Vt    °°'^'""  »f^™»W^  -neet- 
«"<!  obscured  by  hi  fi*~  """  "5"  "hen  it  was  denied 

placed  him  hi»h  „„   ,  'T  T""'   f"''""''"'^'" '  "'«>  '-ad 
="  on   the  ladder  of  preferment,  and  had 


272 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


t2! 


>ll  "  ilH 


Steadily  recognized,  despite  the  clamor  of  Congress  and  his 
subordmates,  the  existence  of  shining  qualitiesressential  in- 
deed  to  a  general  but  not  of  universal  occurrence  in  our 
army;    j,.ho  had  supported  firmly  his  lawful  pretensions 
agamst  the  injustice  of  their  common  masters;  and  to  whose 
unwearied  integrity  he  owed  not  only  his  rank  but  his  com- 
mand.  On  Arnold's  part  it  is  but  fair  to  say  that  I  have  seen 
nothing  save  his  treason  to  induce  me  to  believe  him  one  of 
Washington  s  enemies  and  maligners ;  we  know  who  some  of 
these  were,  and  that  Arnold  was  not  their  friend.*     But  hu- 
man  ingratitude  could  hardly  go  beyond  this  sacrifice  he  was 
now  bent  on  of  all  the  chief  held  dear  to  his  own  baser  in- 
terests.    Washington  «  went  on  his  way,  and  he  saw  him  no 
"n"  \v,^",.!''^.  ^'"^  ^'"'  ^^Vpine.^,  honor,  and  fame, 
fn  A  i  '  l^^^^^o^^  "nder  the  usual  disguise  had  written 
to  Andre,  but  there  was  probably  a  delay  in  the  letter's  trans- 
mission.   Indeed  the  manner  in  which  the  correspondence 
was  all  along  conveyed  is  not  yet  known ;  though  at  the  time 
Arnold  took  command  Moody,  the  well-known  partisan  and 
spy,  was  m  duress  at  West  Point,  and  his  condition  seems  to 
have  excited  the  general's  attention.    If  relations  existed 
between  these  two,  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  sendin.. 
messages  to  any  quarter.    When  he  answered  Robinson's 
letter  on  the  19th,  however,  and  in  general  termrdX 
receiving  any  communications  except  of  a  public  nature,  he 
concealed  within  the  folds  of  his  ostensible  note  two  others 
of  a  very  different  tendency.     Each  of  these  documents  is 
erroneously  dated  as  of  the  18th. 


ARNOLD    TO   KOBINSON. 

SeplenOer  18lh,  1780. -Sm:  I  parted  wiih  his  Excel- 
lency  General  Washington  this  morning,  who  advised  rae  to 


Congress  and  his 
ities,  essential  in- 
ccurrence  in  our 
wful  pretensions 
■s ;  and  to  whose 
nk  but  his  com- 
that  I  have  seen 
eve  him  one  of 
low  who  some  of 
iend.*     But  hu- 
sacrifice  he  was 
i  own  baser  in- 
he  saw  him  no 
,  and  fame, 
lise  had  written 
le  letter's  trans- 
correspondence 
ugh  at  the  time 
n  partisan  and 
iition  seems  to 
ilations  existed 
ilty  in  sending 
*ed  Robinson's 
terms  declined 
iblic  nature,  he 
ote  two  others 
*  documents  is 


COBRESPONDENCE. 


avoid  seeing  you  a,  it  ^    ij  ^^^ 

reasons  appear  to  me  to  b"t .  TT.  '"  "^  '">■•/•     Hk 
d'ffferent  „pi„i„„  j  ^„if'J;l^°'''>^<^  !  but,  if  I  „i^  J" 

«";    1  shall  sead  a  pe^n  ^^  ^1?^^'^  ^  y»  «'  Pres! 

»■"■  «>  boat  and  a  feg  of  truce     v"''  ""^  ^""'•'^  '>™ 
«c.ecy  and  ^  -  °'   ™ce.    Yon  „ay  depend  on  Z 

--hall  he  kept  ^^^Jf        ^^.X-^-f  /hatove"  „"  ! 
»''.ch  I  can  officially  act,  I  ^.^'j  ""<■'  '^  "  '«  a  matter  i„ 
■".oblige  you  consisienti;  „Tll  T'^  """«  ■■"  "r  Power 
b;»  matter  n,ust  be  conduT  d  2h  ,,  ^^    ''''  "o'"  "oLu,^ 
'J'*  .t  will  he  advisable  for  ,r  V  r  ^'""'"  '"'""y-    1 
f  "until  the  time  appointed     ir"'""'"  '"  «■»"'•"  «be.^ 
"  Semleman  in  New  YoaTZ,  „  '""'  "x^'"^^"  «  'e'ter  for 
v«'e  •"■»iness,whichlb°g  ,hn,r  r   "■"  """""•y  on  pri' 
■""le  no  doubt  he  wUl  ?«  n!  f-  T  "^  ^""^  '»  «>"ard,  Ld 
"PPoinled.    Ia„,,te'"  ''^  P-^'o-'^r  to  come  at  the  time 

«»^'4iK,!nT„1,:;;':r»'o  'odge  here  on 
"»y  w,sh  to  communicate  ^  "^*''  •""■  ""^  n«>«er  you 

September  Uth Sin  •  n    „ 

'»  J'o-r  request,  I  attempts,  ,"  f  ,"n  ."'  "°°»'  "S-'^^ably 
prevented  by  the  armed  boat,  rf Z     ^'"'^  ^'='■'7.  "ut  wi        • 

il^e  foregomg  letter  was  wri.f  ^       '""""• 
-"'■on  your  business  .rCorrSheir""""  ^°"  -'  'o 
P<"-»"-      I  have   no  confldan,       f  ?^™'  "'  ""V  other 
»-"/  "'ready,  who  h«s  ;:  '  nt, ,  /  ^^^  made  one  to 
"»»»•  prevented  some  profitable  spccnla- 

--.vrDxrper;;t;x'hnr  """"*  i-^  -■"«•  to 

13  J-      the  landmg  on  the  east  side,  on 


fe  it^i 


»SShS3 


274 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


Wednesday  the  20th  instant,  who  will  conduct  you  to  a  place 
of  safety,  where  I  will  meet  you.  It  will  be  necessary  for 
you  to  be  disguised,  and,  if  the  enemy's  boats  are  there,  it 
will  favor  my  plan,  as  the  person  is  not  suspected  by  them. 
If  I  do  not  hear  from  you  before,  you  may  depend  on  the 
personV  being  punctual  at  the  place  above  mentioned. 

My  partner,  of  whom  I  hinted  in  a  former  letter,  has  about 
ten  thousand  pounds  cash  in  hand  ready  for  a  speculation  if 
any  should  offer,  which  appears  profitable.     I  have  also  one 
thousand  pounds  on  hand,  and  can  collect  fifteen  hundred 
more  m  two  or  three  days.    Add  to  this  I  have  some  credit 
From  these  hints  you  may  judge  of  the  purchase  that  can  be 
made.    I  cannot  be  more  explicit  at  present.    Meet  me  if 
possible.     You  may  rest  assured,  that,  if  there  is  no  danger 
in  passing  your  lines,  you  will  be  perfectly  safe  where  I  pro- 
pose  a  meeting,  of  which  you  shall  be  informed  on  Wednes- 
day  evening,  if  you  think  proper  to  be  at  Dobb's  Ferry 
Adieu,  and  be  assured  of  the  friendship  of        Gustavus. 

September  18ih.  -  The  foregoing  I  found  means  to  send 
by  a  very  honest  fellow,  who  went  to  Kingsbridge  on  the 
16th,  and  I  have  no  doubt  you  have  received  it.  But  as 
there  is  a  possibility  of  its  miscarriage,  I  send  a  copy,  and 
am  fully  persuaded  that  the  method  I  have  pointed  out  to 
meet  you  is  the  best  and  safest,  provided  you  can  obtain 
leave  to  come  out.* 


*  See  Sparks's  Wash.  vii.  527;  and  "The  Case  of  Major  John  Andr^ 
Adjutant-General  to  the  British  Amy,  Who  was  put  to  Death  hyihl 
Cat'  ^leT  ''  '''''  '''\'''''  Represented:  with  Ren^arksonthf  sat 
W„     .1,      .   T  •''?  "^  °'^''"  ^'^""^  "P°°  '^^'  «^'«"S  and  accursed  Civi 

aTposteritv"    "t"'i  r,"'  '!.  ""^  ""'  ""'''  ^''•^^™«-  '^^  execrable 
pn   27     t£  ~ri":^  Ckrendon."      New  Yo.k,  Rivington,  1780.  4to. 
ed^e  but  i  r  """'.  apparently  drawn  up  with  Clinton's  know!- 

edge  but  probably  never  published.    The  only  copy  I  have  seen  Is  made 
Mr  1    .  P-^^er's  proofs.    The  above  letter  difirs  from  thagvert 

The  Zt        .H   r-         f  ''''"'^  ''''''''  ""^'''^  «'^«  ^»  to  the  ;ord  Mee^ 
me  preface  to  the  tract  is  dated  Nov.  28, 1780. 


son  B 

down 

letter 

every 

charg 

paper 

cise. 

from  '. 

vilie,  : 

manoei 

sketch( 

day;  t 

take  tl 

certain! 

that  on 

stand  ra 

Arnold 

enough 

tion  cou; 


Mlu:t  you  to  a  place 
ill  be  necessary  for 

boats  are  there,  it 

suspected  by  them, 
may  depend  on  the 
s  mentioned, 
ler  letter,  has  about 
for  a  speculation  if 
>.  I  have  also  one 
set  fifteen  hundred 

have  some  credit, 
irchase  that  can  be 
sent.  Meet  me  if 
there  is  no  danger 
'•  safe  where  I  pro- 
armed  on  Wednes- 

at  Dobb's  Ferry. 

GUSTAVUS. 


ANDfifi  GOES  TO  THE  VULTURE. 


275 


nd  means  to  send 
ingsbridge  on  the 
eived  it.  But  as 
send  a  copy,  and 
ve  pointed  out  to 
i  you  can  obtain 


In  1  •    r  "^'^ 

"oM  .hat  A„dersor„„„M  17!  'T'"  °"  '»»"'  '"«' 
ce.ved  were  forwarded  lo  iC  v  "^L  Mea„,i„e,  those  re- 
would  seem  was  now,  on  .he  Lm  /,,""''  '^""y  ^  " 
counsel  on  their  consideral^^I  to  V  "^"''  """^  '""> 
ramd,  there  could  have  appeared  little  d!ffl'°j!™  «a<Iy-wit.ed 
bosmess  through:  and  wUh  "™ ''"'°,'''«'=''"y  ■»  pushing  the 

various  oapaoi.L  of  stat:iX„em?tn7d-'';'''''''"'  ^""^^ 
hined  lo  tinge  with  nrocra»«Lf  .',  "^ '"'P'"™'"'^' oora- 
-nted  that  And,^  shLTr°2"  "i'  '"  ™''''"°«'''  ™- 
B"«  «U  parties  appear  Tha^"  T  ,!  ^'^  ""  °°'"''«  ^erry. 
Admiral's  «drice?„v„led Xtrdtr.''r'  "'"P"""  »'  'h« 
■'  «  very  certain  that  he  3d  „  °      ^'"''  "'''""'■»'  «"<1 

•oy  to  go  on  shore  whhom  1  r!!    '  Jf™  '"*''^"=''  *'  »" 
getting  back  again.  "  '^«''^»"''ble  assurance  of  his 

Arrangements  were  sneedilv  „,„  i      a    , 

;n  and  Captain  SuthetCd  Xtui;^!^^''  '»  ^'"»- 
down  to  the  Ferry,  and  was  in  Z  i  u  '  ^'^^'"S  ""em  fall 
■et-e.,.  Clinton  gave  Ita  i, >  "I."""  ''^'"•''  »' h-  own 
everything  ,l,at  pldence  eotfd  ^^^"^  "*'"'  ''^'■"'"g 
eharging  him  to  preser  "e  his7n  f  '"^'"'  »»''  '*P«o-»"y 
Pape«.  On  this  Lt  .^u„  d™r  He'"  """  ""-""""S 
e>se.    In  the  spring  of  177a  „k!  "^  ™"  «""  P"^- 

from  New  York  to  the  Con  w  "*  «"»°"«»«T  was  g^ing 
*,  he  was  con>mi  sioneri Td/w  "\,"  ^''-'««- 
"■anoeuvres  at  Monmol  I  t  ,  ^  ^™>  "f  "-o 
fetched  some  hasty  pi"*"  „ft'  *"  f^'''''^''  "'^■».  Clinton 

^Xi  hut  recolieetin'gtse^  .^T^Lr""""  "^  "" 
lake  these,  for  if  ,he  Americans  find  ,,  '^' J'""  """^l  "ot 
certainly  han<-  von  •    .1,      ,™""'  '""'  «'em  on  you,  they'll 

f  "^  -e."  In  Lilt  :fZ  tZ  "d  "■"  '""^  """- 
Arnold  were  needed.  His  leTtt  ^?  ""''  ""  P"^"  ^""^ 
c»ough  his  own  efTeetive  force  "„d  W '  ^^"?  f ""  ""'""-'y 
1"  could  have  .cltled  ih,  IT.  r  ^^"shrngton's :  conversa- 
«»ed  the  plan  „f„,taeki  and  Kobinson  and 


'■^^^■iiilji 


1  "y* 


"^^ 


■■:;;: 'Si' "«# 


276 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDRfe. 


his  loyp.1  dependents  must  have  furnished  guides  to  every 
gorge  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  ancient  liome. 

Marbois  gives  a  highly  colored  account  of  the  scene  be- 
tween Clinton  and  Andre  on  this  occasion ;  and  whether 
imagination  or  memory  supplied  its  facts,   there  is  a  con- 
sistency  in  this  part  of  liis  story  which  commands  our  atten- 
tion, if  it  does  not  receive  our  faith.     The  interview,  he  says, 
was  insisted  on  by  Arnold  as  a  condition  precedent  to  any 
further  action.     So  far  all  had  prospered  to  his  wish.    There 
were  heard  none  of  those  vague,  sinister  rumors  that  usually 
attend  the  explosion  of  a  conspiracy :   never  had  a  design 
so  prodigious  more  happily  approached  its  appointed  term. 
This  profound  secrecy  was  owing  to  Arnold's  care  that  the 
matter  should  remain  concealed  in  his  own  bosom  and  those 
of  Robinson  and  Andre  ;  and  this  was  one  of  his  motives  for 
wishing  to  place  in  no  other  hands  the  information  needful  to 
bring  matters  to  a  head.     But  on  the  other  part,  he  con- 
tinues,  Clinton  saw  more  danger  than  practical  advantage  in 
the  rendezvous.     He  had  previously  refused  to  sanction  it 
with  his  permission,  and  he  now  feared  lest  so  many  pre- 
cautionary  measures  should  serve  only  to  bring  an  unlucky 
end  to  an  enterprise  that  hitherto  had  progressed  so  smoothly, 
but  in  so  much  danger.     Andre,  however,  to  whom  great 
share  of  the  glory  of  success  must  ensue,  burned  with  im- 
patience  to  play  his  part.     He  had  even,  says  our  chronicler, 
conceived  a  hope  more  ambitious  by  far  than  the  seizure  of 
the  forts.     He  thought  now  to  fix  the  surrender  on  the  very 
day  of  Washington's  return  to  West   Point,  and  thus  to 
crown  his  achievements  with  the  capture  of  our  main  stay 
and  chief.     But  apprehending  that  Clinton  would  not  view 
this  idea  with  favor,  he  contented  himself  with  the  request 
to  meet  Arnold  for  the  purposes  already  discussed.     Tiie 
English  general  at  length  consented  ;  and  Marbois  pretends 
to  give  (in  translation,  of  course)  the  very  words  he  spoke. 

"  Mon  enfant,"  lui  dit-il,  « ton  entreprise  exige  encore  plus 
de  sagesse  que  d'audace,  conduis-la  suivant  ton  desir  jusqu'ii 


'>'< 


I    I 


ce  qu'elle  soit  consomm  ' 

■I  un  scul  coup  celte  guerre  ■  ta  fi. "  •»  ' """"  ""■''  «»" 

'"««•    Tu  sera,  done  comnw  !^      •     '  '"  """"'e-ant  An... 

Early  on  ll,e  20lh  AnH    ,   ,  /"'  '""^  '«»  s»dos.» 
'■«  propoaed  ,„  ^end  t' t  et  ^^  re^'r "'  ^"^^'  "'-- 
"'!•  l..m,  and  l,e  deiermincd    o  ll     "P"    ^"^  "<'«  ««» 

alteriug  her  p„si,i„„.    j^^"  ^^'""''''^  oppressed  wiah  by 
i"  Haver,....  Bay.  a  «,«e  a^  r/i."  '^  «"'  °"  "-'^ 
"Bh   wa,  passed  in  ,„r,oZ  expeei    °    .  ^'"""  ""^  ">«= 
of  k<s  co„fede«,.e.      But  no  S'""  ""^  "■*  "PPearanoe 
morning  r„„„<,  ,,;„  ^         °  jl^-a'  or  message  came ;  and 

";a",is  absence  would  "e™Mn';'^"'''t  "'=  ''-^''■•^d  ,00 
«  'Oh  dees  not  appear  .0  havdeelTr  ^°*''  """^  """- 
«  If  mi^ed  Arnold  by  eomin"!  ,L  'f'  "^"^'-h^  ^ad  him. 
"'  "-/"'y-  Pnv^iiling  W  '"^  f'f  '"''"^  of  -aiting 
'■e  made  an  excuse  .0  C  inZ  Z'  1  ""^  "'"  '"''  "hance: 
"-  "-  ■«'="'.'  be  sarely  tad  Ty  X^ZlT' '"  " 

^KDRi   TO    CtlNTO!,. 

0»  feorrf  He  tuUure,  21  &.,  ,  ,„„  ^ 
vas  favorable  on  my  arrival  at  „,~^"'-"  ^'  ""=  «<'« 
ermined  to  be  myself  the  bJer'  ^'»°P  yesterday,  I  de- 
'»  as  far  as  the  Vulture  tT  ^°'"'  ^^oUency's  let- 
«.gl,t  a  veiy  bad  cold  and  had  so"  T'"''^  *■-■  -'•having 
"■•to  in  my  stomach, ,  Weh  had  Z^tj  "  '"'"™  "f  »  "is! 
"■a'  Capt.  Sutherland  a™d  ^f  R  f '"  ""^  "  ''«"  %«  ago, 


278 


LIFE  Of  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


liri  !■  ■.  11 


ANDr£  to  CLINTON. 
On  hoard  the  Vulture,  21  September,  1780.  — Si  R:  I  got 
on  board  the  Vulture  at  about  7  o'clock  last  night ;  and  after 
considering  upon  the  letters  and  the  answer  given  by  Colonel 
Robinson,  « that  he  would  remain  on  board,  and  hoped  I 
should  be  up,"  we  thought  it  most  natural  to  expect  the  Man 
I  sent  into  the  Country  here,  and  therefore  did  not  think  of 
going  to  the  Ferry. 

Nobody  has  appeared.     This  is  the  second  excursion  I 
have  made  without  an  ostensible  reason,  and  Colonel  Robin- 
son both  times  of  the  party.     A  third  would  infallibly  fire 
suspicions.     I  have  therefore  thought  it  best  to  remain  here 
on  pretence  of  sickness,  as  my  inclosed  letter  will  feign,  and 
try  further  expedients.     Yesterday  the  pretence  of  a  flag  of 
truce  was  made  to  draw  people  from  the  Vulture  on  slwre. 
The  boat  was  fired  upon  in  violation  of  the  customs  of  war. 
Capt.  Sutherland  with  great  propriety  means  to  send  a  fla" 
to  complain  of  this  to  General  Arnold.     A  boat  from  the 
Vulture  had  very  nearly  taken  him  on  the  11th.     He  was 
pursued  close  to  the  float.     I  shall  favor  him  with  a  news- 
paper containing  the  Carolina  news,  which  I  brought  with 
me  from  New  York  for  Anderson,  to  whom  it  is  addressed 
on  board  the  Vulture.     I  have  the  honor,  &c.*  ' 

Andre  had  boarded  the  Vulture  in  the  highest  spirits,  con- 
fident of  success  ;  nor  was  even  the  cautious  and  circumspect 
Robmson  disposed  to  believe  in  a  failure.  In  fact  Robinson 
was  placed  in  his  present  position  because,  among  other  rea- 
sons, his  character  for  Tjlear-headedness  stood  as  high  as  his 
reputation  for  probity  and  honor;  and  it  was  intended  that 
should  the  negotiation  be  consummated  by  Andre  rather  than 
himself,  he  should  at  least  exercise  a  wholesome  check  over 
his  coadjutor's  buoyancy.  At  this  moment,  neither  of  them 
seem  to  have  dreamed  of  leaving  the  ship  ;  they  thought  on 
*  MS.  —  Sir  H.  Clinton's  Narr. 


0.  —  Sir:  I  got 
night;  and  after 
»iven  by  Colonel 
'd,  and  hoped  I 
expect  the  Man 
lid  not  think  of 

)nd  excursion  I 
Colonel  Robin- 
Id  infallibly  fire 
to  remain  here 
'  will  feign,  and 
ice  of  a  flag  of 
jlture  on  shore, 
justoms  of  war. 
to  send  a  flag 
boat  from  the 
Uth.     He  was 
m  with  a  news- 
[  brought  with 
t  is  addressed, 


est  spirits,  con- 
nd  circumspect 
fact  Robinson 
)ng  other  rea- 
as  high  as  his 
intended  that 
Ir^  rather  than 
ne  check  over 
either  of  them 
ley  thought  on 


SUTHERLAND  TO  AftNOLD.  279 

of  the  brave,  it  «  nmbnllT    .  T    ,  .      "'*'  *"''  "'«  ""'Of 
n.eans  that  we  are  led  oftpnf!m„    ""'^'^7*^^-     ^^  "  by  such 

pressing  cider,  „„d  ealied  J„  I^™,  ^^  r:i,r    p"" 
liaps  to  (ret  rid  nf  fhn«,  *i,  ^  ™'"-     -Per- 

anlred^l  tltri,  Jbr^T  '  """  ""'  ^"""^'^  -' 
and  flndinK  it  even T^!      i  ,  u     "^  """"'"  '»  ">«  ^hore, 

^nr :;:e\:t:  rir  9 ?  '  - '•  -" 

.W„',  mediatiof  lun  L?  ;  •'''"''''''^  "■""«''  Ko"" 
-toaee  whrj^a  ™Id  "^  .^.^  "="""»"»■«"-"  «'«.  Arnold 
it  was  fired  onbv  7       K      T  "'  "  ""'  "'"■'»  ™«ge 

.reac,,er„uf  Ce  Vt  m  r:h:  """  ""•  "'"P'""  ""' 

-bled  by  its  poaitL  L  z.  *!,,::n^' ""' """"'  ""^ 

first  sign  of  pursuit      It  1.  •  ^     T        ^""'^y  o"  *e 

can  to^be  eompeUed  to  Z^Tt'""  "'  ''"""'  '»  ""  ^"'ri- 

fougbtbyt^asTfl:;?^:,  »:„rr  ""  !J"  """"'^ 
that  the  interview  beiwJnTj  -    °  ,    """•'''''"'''"'■eaffair 

a-^.^eiroonse^u^rSioroLtert-r^^^^^^^^ 
device  of  the  newsnan^r  „  ^-^^'onea.     j?or  besides  the 

■n^eed  b,  S„thTrZHr<r"e'^^ed"'b''j  7?^"'^ 

secretary,  and  in  hJ=  \.     a     .  ;      ^®**  ^y  John  Anderson, 

Arnoidl^relrn^grtin"?;/'''  ""'  ^'"'  "  ""^  '» 

8DTHEKLAND    TO  ARNOLD. 

VuUure,  off  Telle,',  Poim,  21  September       <J..    r 
»*r.t  a  duty  to  eomplain  of  any  vToMo„  „7.t    I  ^  "'"l 
--.  and  I  an.  satisfied  tbat  r  J.  '^tt7,l  fVZ  m 


m 


280 


LIFE  OF  MAJOIl  ANDIlft. 


o  meet  redress.  It  h  therefore  with  reluctance  I  give  you 
the  concern  to  know,  that,  a  flag  of  truce  having  been  yesL 
day  Hhow,>  on  Teller'n  Point,  I  sent  a  boat  towards  the  8lu,re 
presummg  some  communication  was  thereby  solicited.  The' 
boats  crew  on  approaching  received  a  fire  from  several 
armed  men,  who  till  then  had  been  concealed.  Fortunately 
none  of  my  people  were  hurt,  but  the  treacherous  intentions 
of  those  who  fired  are  not  vindicated  from  that  circumstance. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

Let  us  now  turn  to  Arnold,  and  see  what  were  his  plans  for 
those  commun.cations  that  he  had  not  dared  to  trust  on  paper 
Iwo  miles  and  a  half  below  Stony  Point,  in  a  square' 
wo-stoned  stone  house  that  still  stands  on  the  Ilaverstraw 
Road,  dwelt  a  man  of  substance  named  Joshua  Hett  Smith 
H.S  general  reputation  was  that  of  a  warm  whig,  but  Lamb 
whose  wife  was  a  connection,  seems  to  have  set  him  down  as 
a  d,safn.cted  poison,  and  forbade  any  intimacy  between  the 
households.     In  truth  he  appears  to  have  been  one  of  tha 
class  who  run  wuh  the  hare  and  hunt  with  the  hounds.     His 
brother  the  Chief-Justice,  now  a  warm  loyalist  in  New  York 
was  sa.d  by  his  fellows  to  have  hung  back  till  the  conquest  of 
Amenca  was  deemed  certain.      Another  brother  at  London 
was  charged  wUh  seditious  practices  there.   He  himself,  how- 
ever,  was  a  man  of  education  and  intelligence ;  and  probablv 
was  chiefly  careful  to  keep  on  good  terms  with  whom  oevt 
was  ^permost,  while  in  heart  he  preferred  a  reconciliatLn 
w  th  Bntam  on  the  terms  then  offered,  to  a  continuance  of  the 
war  for  Independence.     He  was  withal  .  fm.orous,  yet  a  pry! 
ing,  busthng  sort  of  character;  delighted  1„  Im..  a  han^^  i 
weaghty  afKurs,  but  devoid  of  the  ne-    :.  f.  e..y  him  wi 
good  assurance  through  their  implications. 

Famdiar  ;„    his  social  habits,  well  acquainted  with  the 
country  and  ts  inhabitants,  and  a  landholder  of  some  c  ns 
quence  Smith  had  been  usefully  employed  by  the  AmeTcan 
.^neral  Howe  to  bring  intelligence  to  West  P^t,  atT    " 


:tnnco  I  give  you 
ving  boon  yestcr- 
ownrds  the  sliore, 
y  solicited.  The 
re  from  several 
L'd.  Fortunately 
hcrous  intentions 
iut  circumstance. 


ere  his  plant?  for 

0  trust  on  paper, 
>t,  in  a  square, 
the  Ilaverstraw 
ua  Hett  Smith, 
i^hig,  but  Lamb, 
et  him  down  as 
cy  between  the 
een  one  of  that 
e  hounds.     His 
t  in  Now  York, 
the  conquest  of 
her  at  London 
e  himself,  how- 

;  and  probably 
th  whomsoever 

1  reconciliation 
itinuance  of  the 
•ous,  yet  a  pry- 
'''-">"■■  a  han'^  in 
nr/y  him  with 

nted  with  the 
f  some  conse- 
the  American 
int,  and  it  was 


JOSHUA  ilETT  SMITH  gfl 

"  convenient  ,«,,.    vlZu^^T"':"  '"  "'"">  "'  ''"» 
""ough  of  „,„  „n;,i,  „„^  3 '■'  ■»  «"»go.l.e,.  likely  „,„. 

'v«»  engaging  in  a„i„,ri.„7j*^,;^^'»'«'  **"'"'  ""^i™  I'o 
'lq«n<l„„ee,  it  is  incredible  .it    r,   ,'°  '"'"«"'"  »"''  I- 
-«;ts..„„u  be  committed  r;„""'t  "'  '""  """-"'- 
'  "■  "cndly  intercourse  that IZf  a      ■  "^  """""•     ""'  "■ 
O'"  in'ention  of  en,p|„vi„r 'JH'      ""^  ™""^^'''  ">  Smith 
Uritish  agent  within  tlio  Iml^      ,"  8-''«"'«™  to  bring  „ 
*..ce  than  hi,  o„„,  ultZu",    ""• ,  '^'"'  ""  »"'"«- 
f""»  to  Smith  were  carrierbu  .,     '"''J'""  '"  ">«  ^»-»'«- 
'"»  Trial  and  his  NarraUvc'l  """""^"'"S  '""cmento  of 

""«'  ■•"  ".c  one  ease  h  '  e Ta^  ^l  1?""^V"'  "^  '""^  '''"=' 
"»ko  tl.c  best  story  he  cIuM  f„ '  T  ["""^  '"'  ""gl"  'o 
other,  he  endeavored  to  TuIT  ^  Americans;  i„  ,,,„ 
*-g>i»h.     With  these  °iCr      '  "''""""°"  '"•"'  ^''0 

i-nd^re:::trs:irr«"r^^'^c,osedthe 

iVench  alliance,  and  dilated  on  il,.  "'='""'  "«»'"»'  "-« 

»  despotic  monarch  and  an, -nsli""".™'  ""'""  '"""«» 
<>»«■•    He  expatiated  on  the  IT  Kr^''  ''«''""S  '''"  ''"'«- 
■»-<!  by  the  Cbmmissfonet  oTnT  :rr/''"  '""-^  P™" 
Protrered  in  „U  sincerity  .laJ^flu'^^''  "''"^  ^^^^ 
<«Pl«ble  to  the  great  ma^s  „f^     ""''  ""<"  "'^'•«'  ''''"7  "c- 
".at  Robinson  was  the  "earer  of  r'"""- '    ""'  '"''"""""^^ 
vontble,  and  such  as  eouH  not  hrr""""  "''"  ■""■•'=  «" 
-Ptance.    He  o„„od  Wsdes,:  f'       "''"'  ""^  '^^-«'  »- 
«f  «  war  in  „hieh  he  had  ,7^1^°  *"''  '"'  '^"riness 
™»  of  the  enemy,  but  the  Lt  r      "."'  °"'^  "«»'""  "«^ 
eovemment  and  tto  ent  re  nS""       °/  "'"  I'^n^Jl^nia 
»«M  be,  «  here  am  I  now  aS     l"'  "i  ^'''•^'^-   "  Smith," 

7  country,  and  find  J;,^^;  H'       f'  '""  """'^^  «^ 

"'« limb  -'  (holding  „p  hU  wmmd!,  t  T"^  constitution  and 

°  "P  I"  Hounded  leg)  "now  rendered  use- 


•^^     11, 

«    tin,    i   I 

In  III 

ri,;. 


li  fj 


11  I'm 


282 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDRt. 


less  to  me.  At  the  termmalion  of  thif  war,  where  can  I  seek 
for  compensation  for  such  damages  as  I  have  sustained  ?"  It 
«  .mposs-bk  not  to  recognize  in  this  language  that  deep  re- 
semmcnt  of  real  and  of  fancied  wrongs  which  had  Brst  bent 
Arnolds  mmd  to  his  present  course. 

Having  resolved  that  bis  interview  with  the  British  mes 
sSst"'"'  ^  f""  "■'  ''"■■'""'"  '™^'  ho  fl«d  on 
thither.  By  Smith's  own  account,  this  ..irangement  was 
made  about  the  19th  or  20th  September,  but  the  more  p^L 
able  theory  of  Mr.  Sparks  carries  it  back  to  the  14th  orS 
when  A.™w  met  his  wife  there  on  her  arrival  and  escorted 
her  up  to  h,s  quarters.    However  this  may  be,  the  upshot  of 

He  took  h,s  family  to  Fishkill,  thirty  miles  from  his  residence 
and  about  eighteen  from  head-quarters,  that  the  house  mi-h 

^r.  r'^ll         r''*"™'"S  "'  ^'""•'t^'i  'o  Robinson's  House 
on  the  19th  received,  says  Mr.  Spares,  the  necessary  r-a-Z 

the  20th  and  bnng  away  the  expected  agent.    Smith  indeed 
asserts  that  Arnold  himself  brought  th^m  to  his  house  at 
Hav-crstraw:  but  the  point  is  of  little  consequent  Fo 
™  of  a  boat  or  of  boatmen,  he  did  not  fulfil  his  commission 
nor  indeed  was  he  very  ardent  to  do  so ;  but  he  notified  hs' 
employer  of  the  omission  by  an  express  during  the  ni.ht.    I 
must  Uien  have  Keen  Arnold's  scheme  to  haveVssed°th   day 
with  Eobmson  or  Andr^  at  Smith's  house,  and  to  have  sen^ 
hmbaek  on  the  next  night;  for  Smith's  note  found  him  in  ted 

bmith  to  find  boatmen  among  his  own  tenantry  than  to  em- 

fZZiZT'"^  '°  ">"'»-'— vice,  and  had  2 
arranged  for  him  a  protection  and  a  password  by  means  of 
which  he  might  at  any  time  traverse  our  hues  on  l3  o 
water  without  hindrance.      Hiding    down,  howeve      afte 

th~'°  ^"'•"'"''  ^'""''  ^'""^'"S  «.at  an  orfer: 
the  quartermaster  to  supply  a  light  boat  was  ur  .'ulflUed,  he 


,  wliere  can  I  seek 
^e  sustained?"  It 
ige  that  deep  re- 
ich  had  first  bent 

the  British  mes- 
nes,  he  fixed  on 

•  to  conduct  him 
.irangement  was 
It  the  more  prob- 
the  14th  or  15th, 
val  and  escorted 
>e,  the  upshot  of 

that  was  asked, 
om  his  residence 
the  house  might 
objnson's  House 
lecessary  papers 

the  evening  of 

•  Smith  indeed 
to  his  house  at 
sequence.  For 
his  commission, 
he  notified  his 

?  the  night.    It 
passed  the  day 
d  to  have  sent 
•und  him  in  bed 
3  rather  wished 
ry  than  to  em- 
;  and  had  also 
d  by  means  of 
les  on  land  or 
lowever,   after 
It  an  order  on 
ur  fulfilled,  he 


JOSHUA  HETT  SMITH.  gg 

At  the  same  .ime  he  received  f^„r''  '°°"  "'  "  »"'^«'- 
had  just  been  brought  fiZ  ,t  V  r"^'™  "">  '""«>•  that 
Andre'8  being  on  bo!rd  T,l  1°"""*  '°  ''•^""^  W-n  of 
Smith-,  and  ;„!  tJe  ad™ T"""/"  '"^^'^  »'-  '" 
0"thep.eedingd»,;-::~-n%-^^ 

-Son''::;efti:bf^ 

™an,  Mr.  John  Anderson,  Who  I  wkh'-^'^T'  "  ^«""«- 
;ants,  to  pass  and  repass  the  gu  rd!  neaJ'^^^  S^^  *"^  ^^^^■ 
times.     .  ^^^"^^^Kmg's  Ferry  at  all 

B.  Arnold,  M.  Genl. 

On™:  r  ■ -irof  ttir  :r  "i  t=-  ">  •"«  ^">'- 

cation  had  not  been  l„det  "  '""'"""'  "«"  ^e  ex- 

""■ght  yet  have  to  "  end  l' Dlb"  ^^  "  P'-Me  that  he 
additional  pass  wa,  given:-  '"^'  "^'"f""'  an 

Head- Quarters,  Robin  km^   tt 
Permission  is  giJen  t:Z.^'''^:^itr^  '''  ''''- 
l^erry  with  three  Men  and  «  P  '     '^•'  ^"^  ^^  *«  ^^obb's 

Ws  of  a  private  ZZ'  L  o'enTll!  "^^^  ^^^^^  -- 
to  return  immediatelv.  -^"tlemen  in  New  York  and 

N.  B.     He  has  np'rm-    •  Arnold,  M.  Genl. 

-  ".0  tide  andt-   Em:  '"  "'  ""''  """^  »"  «- 

•'j.     Am 

Smith  had  relied  fnr  k 
Samuel  and  Joseph  CoLho  r"  °"  1  """P'^  "f  ''■^  '»ante, 
accustomed  ,o  the  water  and  ™>""'''  "'''  """'  '"=  ^"^^ 
required,  however,  eonSe^hir"''"""  '"'  '=°»«<'<'"«=-  I 
-of  a  handsome  eTarff  f IT''"'''"™'  """  "'"  P™"- 
Panishment  if  .hey  ref'  ed  ereT''''"^/^  "<"'  as  threats  of 
Arnold's.     They  tere Teari  ^  llrf  T''"''  '"  "'  '"^'»»  ""^ 

aight-voynge  to. he  enZ     i^r'^' ""' ""^ '''^'■'"'''''J  » 

aeray.     ihe  watchword  Cwyrw  was 


iZ 


284 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRli:. 


given    wlMch  would  secure  them  from  interruption  by  our 
guard-boats  ;  and  botli  Smith  and  themselves  were  assured 
that  the  busmess  was  well  understood  by  the  British  officers 
and  the  American,  but  that  it  was  necessary  for  certain  rea- 
sons  to  keep  the  matter  from  the  tongues  of  the  vul-ar.     At 
last  they  yielded,  and  towards  midnight  of  the  21st,"the  boat 
pushed  from  the  creek  towards  the  Hudson.     No  flag  was 
displayed  from  Us  bow ;  but  tlie  oarsmen  as  well  as  their 
passenger  testify  that  they  were  told  by  Arnold  and  actually 
considered  it  .as  a  flag-boat  to  the  Vulture.    How  far  the  fact 
that  It  was  now  an  hour  when  a  flag  could  not  have  been 
seen  If  exhibited,  and  the  passes  just  given,  together  with  the 
ensuing  letter,  go  to  justify  this  assertion,  the  military  reader 
must  decide.     Both  Arnold  and  Smith  charged  the  men  to 
have  nothing  to  say  to  the  crew, -an  injunction  that  was 
piobably  entirely  disregarded.     In  returning,  the  boat  was 
o  make  for  a  place  at  low-water  mark  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Hudson,  between  King's  Ferry  and  the  ship,  being  the 
foot  of  a  mountain  called   the   Long  Clove.     This   spot  is 
about  five  miles  from  Smith's  house,  and  two  below  Hav- 
erstraw ;  and  hither  Arnold  proceeded  on  horseback  attend- 
ed by  Smith  s  negro  servant  also  mounted.     The  letter  sent 
to  Kobmson  was  as  follows  : 


ARNOLD    TO   ROBINSON. 

^(mfer  21   1780.- Sm:_  This  will  be  delivered  lo 

C^    Ar    «"  ',  "■'"  *'"  """^"''  y^"  '"  "  P'»<=°  »f  Safety. 
Neuher  Mr  Sm,.l.  or  any  other  person  shall  be  made  ac- 

quamted  with  your  proposals.    If  they  (which  I  doubt  not) 

arc  of  such  a  nature  that  I  can  officially  take  notice  of  them 

I   hall  do  It  wuh  pleasure.    If  not,  you  shall  be  permitted  fc^ 

return  .mmed.ately.     I  take  it  for  granted  Colonel  Robinson 

v.ll  not  propose  anything  that  is  not  for  the  interest  of  the 

United  States  as  well  as  himself.    I  am,  sir,  &c. 


ARNOLD'S  LE-nm  TO  ROBINSON. 


T/io  art  of  this  feller  win  h.    ,,  ^^^ 

™«^n  his  estate  a.  the  cost  ^ft  ^nt" "  """  ""=?»-"  <" 

a»d  as  their  boat  silently  speeded  al„„       ?^  ®'°"^  J""'"' ! 
ll'oy  drew  fresh  cnerRy  fZ  ,1,  ?  "'"'  *  ''""""''S  Me 

'■•<"■■    The  sky  „as  3^,0™!.,°""'™"'"'=''  "'  ™'"'«4- 

l-otween  King^s  Ferry  and  "Lifer's T'    .^'"'  '"^'^  "«- 
passed,  and  the  spars  of  the  Vuhl      "' *'''''  «»»»  over- 
•'.rough  the  gloom.    As    h^/^t  „?'  ,"  """  '■"""'■■'"' 
from  the  ship,  and  brought  tobT^l  "T'  '"^  ""^  ''""oa 
"Je  was  young  f|„„d,  and  he  .hi         "'•    '^>'  *"  '™«  the 
fending  off  f^a,  the  V„U„rt ,     I  T  ^'""^  "P  '"  'ho  boat 
on  board.    Some  rude  sal„H,  1    ""  ""^  "*''<'<»  '<>  come 
ofthedecl.,  andina  JilT"7TP'«-<'  hy  the  officer 
".0  visitor  descend  to  .he^a  ,  I'if  """^^^"O'  ""O  ""^e 


CHAPTER    XV. 
probably  awaiting  Ar„oId"r  artl      H     ■•<'g"»ental,,  was 

deck.    The  captain',  p„mcne,:  mad    himfLrCd  .h^ 
conversation  then  turned  on  indifTerent  snWed     ' 

Meanwhile,  Eobinson  and  Andre  (who  was  af.he  r      • 
bed)  were  pondering  on  Arnold's  let  er     J^,t  f  '" 

not  named  in  the  nas,  h.  j«  i  T  ,  ^  '°™"' »'" 
wish,  to  go  hims  f  rthtsho;  '"and  M  T""""^  '"■  "»' 
earnestly  urged  A„dr,5  not  to  ^  '  For  h""ow„"  T."""  "'' 
•ively  refused  to  leave  the  shfp  ■  but  I  find       '^''■^' '"'  ^'^ 

he  questioned  the  lawfulness  of  hi!  "  T"^'""'  """ 

Tbo  Iff,»,  „  J        ««wiumess  ot  his  companion's  doing  so 
Ihe  If  tier  and  passes  were  examined  by  the  threp  r;;.-^' 

f :™- ;r  Lrrrad ^  rFf 

of  war.     Nor  di'rl  *h^  fi.-      ^        "«rogation  to  the  customs 
..e  case  ^J^J!^-^  ^  at^^f  ^ -r- 

-  Andr.wa:i-;jrnrr=:;t;r::- 


ANDEfi  LEAVES  THE  VULTCkk. 


and  its  Results 

>y  Land. 

received  by  his 
sgimentals,  was 
IS  presented  to 

offered  a  seat, 
he  letter ;  after 
e  and  orderinn" 
1.  During  the 
fi  says  he  took 
h  reception  on 
nends,  and  the 
icts. 

at  the  time  in 
the  former  was 
)bably  did  not 
is  says  that  he 
I  part,  he  posi- 

evidence  that 
5n's  doing  so. 
three  British 
Jast  might  un- 
5  the  customs 
he  went  alter 
by  request  of 
ority  to  grant 
3  unquestion- 
lor  willing  to 


r'sk  the  loss  of  so  v«l.    ki 

fl»nce  of  e„,„,„„  ,„  J^"*;  P";^e  b^  refasing  „,e  „,. 

'"g.themghtof  the  20tl,  m^.u""""  '''"''«'■•    »«- 
»nxio„sIy„„„eip„,ed  t£'^l:^y'''\""'  ^'^t.  he  had 
lest  some  misadventure  had  ?         /'  "'"'  ""'  f""  of  fear 
fSmUk-s  arrival,  he  hurried  ZTl  "f  ""  "'«'  "»™  » 
•»  b<=  gone.    He  evidenr;I™Lt'd  l-^  '"^  ""^  ''»P»«^"' 
°"'cr  risk  than  that  of  I'Z^T    T"'^  "'^P"'"'  «>  "<> 
o^hy  some  other  AmerS  ^c!  Lm  'f'^™''  ''y  Arnold 
refuse  anything  .hat   mi.r^ret^  "/T  '»  "«'  «aref„l  ,o 
™™y.he  privilege,  of  W '  Cm"'  '"^:'-""'■■»S  from  an 
""«  he  might  „i3h  ,„  ,     ofi-r  f  ••    ^'"'■'■•'«nd  suggested 
"«  o'her  apparel,  buUb! pZT"'"'"  ""''• '"^ '^^^ 
h»<l  Clinton's  o«le«,  he  said,  toTTn  h      "".'  "'^"'P'^''-    He 
means  to  relinquish  his  oh^     5       ''"'  ""'f"™-  "nd  by  no 
";'  the  least  L  fo"l,fX"'  ^"''  ""'''^  """  '«"'«" 
Arnold's  messenger,  when  a^d  w^       /"^  '^'"'y  '»  «"«"<! 
certainly  appear  °as  though  he  at   f  ^1  ^]'"^'^-    ^'  """M 

-om,  as  Anderson   he  Tas  now      ,    7'  '''  '''"  »'«'  '» 
"'h  the  remark  that  heSseTf!h'  .IT  ""'"  ">'  «'"'™™ 
hat  this  pe,.o„  was  authorted  bt  T      n '  ^^  ""  '^°"''  h"' 
Andr^  was  evidently  eaZ'^f^  f'""^  '"  '^k"  his  place, 
"niform  was  a  large\lue  t,t^/°^  '"  •""'"''^    O^er  his 
priately  be  worn  in  a  SepVmbt       1'/"*  "'  ""S""  "PP™- 
-  la^e  boots  were  vS  XC     mT  *.'  "'"^^'  '"" 
together  hid  the  elothing  benelTV        !  ''"'  ""'^  '""»"'  «!- 
oubted,  it  did  not  from  S'"-"'"."'^  •««'«>»  ""ay  be 
kne-r  themselves  en.a"ed  fn  ,  t'  •  '^  "  "  '''"■<'«"'  'hey  all 
™»pieion,  though  at°thef'r„l  """""!  """  "»«  »ot  without 
.*«  most  entire  .-gnaJnee  orevertr'T"'""  ""^^  "-'ared 
"'  proof.     Before  leaving  th!?i,7^  """  '™'  "»'  "'ready 

W  the  captain  of  the  s"!e  of  t"TTZ"'  ^'»'*  '-^^  ■-« 

ot  h,8  boat  and  the  probable  dif- 


\ 


288 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRI-:. 


^^Ilfl 


ficulty  of  returning,  and  asked  for  the  loan  of  two  oarsmen 
from  the  crew :  which  request  was  denied.     I  much  ques- 
tion whether,  at  the  distance  of  time  when  this  statement  was 
published,  its  exact  purport  may  not  have  become  a  little 
obscured.     If  the  demand  was  made  it  would  probably  have 
been  complied  with,  for  Andre  must  have  expected  to  return 
that  night ;  and  when  as  they  were  about  to  start,  Robinson 
suggested  that  so  large  a  boat  with  but  two  oars  would  be 
long  on  the  way,  and  urged  that  the  Vulture  should  send  her 
yawl  to  tow  them  as  far  as  convenient.  Smith  declined  the 
offer  lest  a  water-patroi  should  encounter  them,  and  consider 
the  presence  of  the  English  an  infringement  of  the  flag.     In 
the  former  case,  to  be  sure,  the  two  new  men  would*'  have 
been  nominally  covered  by  the  pass ;  but  in  either,  as  it 
turned  out,  it  had  been  well  for  the  British  to  have  car- 
ried out  the  suggestion.     No  guard-boat  was  in  the  way; 
the  Vulture's  armed  barge  might  have  safely  come  and  gone ;' 
and  two  of  her  seamen  in  Smith's  boat  would  have  brought 
Andre  back  unharmed  and  undiscovered.     But  all  parties'on 
board  seem  to  have  considered  ii;  certain  that  Arnold's  pass 
protected  him  from  danger,   and  that  he  was  sure   to  be 
returned  as  he  went;  else,  says  Sutherland,  measures  for 
bnnging  him  off  whenever  he  chose  by  the  Vulture's  boats 
could  have  been  easily  concerted  and  accomplished.    It  is 
indeed  a  marvel  that  on  such  an  errand  a  man  should  ven- 
ture into  the  lion's  den,  without  taking  every  precaution  to 
ensure  a  safe  retreat.     Had  the  ship's  boat  followed  Smith's 
at  a  guarded  distance,  remained  under  the  shore  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  off,  and  approached  in  due  season,  no  suspicion 
would  have  been  excited  or  discovery  ensued.   It  was  known 
that  the  tide  would  be  strongly  against  a  return,  and  it  is  not 
hkely  that  Smith  did  not  name  the  conspicuous  place  whither 
he  was  now  to  steer  :  a  place  far  below  the  American  lines. 
The  lateness  of  the  night  with  these  other  circumstances  would 
have  almost  compelled  an  astute  officer  to  insist  that  his  own 
boat  should  appear  with  a  sufficient  crew  at  a  concerted 


1  of  two  oarsmen 
I.     I  much  qucs- 
hi3  statement  was 
e  become  a  little 
1(1  probably  have 
xpected  to  return 
to  start,  Robinson 
vo  oars  would  be 
3  should  send  her 
lith  declined  the 
lem,  and  consider 
i  of  the  flag.    In 
men  would  have 
;  in  either,  as  it 
ish  to  have  car- 
tas in  the  way ; 

come  and  gone ; 
lid  have  brought 
Jut  all  parties  on 
lat  Arnold's  pass 
was  sure  to  be 
id,  measures  for 

Vulture's  boats 
mplished.    It  is 
man  should  ven- 
fy  precaution  to 
followed  Smith's 
hore  a  few  hun- 
3n,  no  suspicion 
.   It  was  known 
rn,  and  it  is  not 
:s  place  whither 
A.merican  lines, 
imstances  would 
ist  that  his  own 
at  a  concerted 


ANDRlS  LEAVES  TIIE 
place  and  time.    Ilappj,^  ^^  Am 


VULTURE. 


289 


«ro  ,00  m„ch  excited  ami  S*:,"?  "'"'  ""=  "'""f  «c,o™ 
to  the  remoter  eme>ge„ei"lr,l,r      ,  ^'"=  ''""<"«"'  ''e«I 
Several  of  ,he  cret  X  taZ  ""ff'-Wng. 

'■elm  Smith  pushed  away  T^,,""^"""'  -""'  ""d  taking  „,» 
'ho  Ude  and  the  wea.lTas  he  1"°'  "f' ""''  """  '""  «<«"' 
Cove.  He  indeed  JuC1T71  ''"''"  '°  "'"  ^"S 
was  ,0  bring  hiJ  eomn^Ton  ,„  '""'  ""=""°"^''  """  '-o 
W  was  p^vided  a.Te  1 "  ^  7"  ''"""''  »""  """  « 
••"Me  Arnold  had  nevertloL  ?  "  ""''••  •""  ■'  "  P^-b- 

b-ineas  at  .he  wa.  l^"^  .^T ,™''»"  "^ -''>™g  all  ,he 
conlingency.  When  the  b,a  1°  ,  ,  ^"""^"'^  ''<'■•  «"<"her 
''•"nd  picking  ,,u  way  th^^lh  n  '  ""  ''""""  «"""'  '"« 
»t  an  appointed  place  hiher  1 ,  !\''T  ."'''  ^"""^  ^™<>'>i 
of  .1.0  .ree3:  "L  was'wd  1        «"'' '"  ""=  «>"«<=alment 

"p---^;  whentoid:/;!  ::"fj%:r.s™-*  ^u, 

Eobmson-.,  delegate,  whose  youth  n;,!  .r'""  ""''  """ 
argned  .he  possession  of  a  weW  l  ""''  8<^""™««»  ''"'l  no. 
lo",  he  exhibited  great  al'n  °  ^ '""''  "'"^  '"  "aiUng  be- 
Hobinson  himself  fad  L.tt"  Tu  baTT"  "  -^°-^""»' 
W  .0  him.    This  done,  SmTih  w,=  """  "™S"  '»  be 

.boa.  and  leave  them  ogeXr  Tr""''''  '»  ^'^o  to  the 
;n.o  slumber  while  .heir  land Ld^  T?  ""'""'"'  «""' 
■ng  at  his  exclusion  from  "he  .'  '^  '"'^^'""^  "'"'f- 

•rembling  with  aguo,  une^ilv  a« ,  7."'™"°"'  """  ■"•'  ""dy 
".ination  of  ,he  interview  wt!,  °"  ""^  '"■'"S'"  ""=  «er. 
';e  at  las.  went  back  and  wnrld  ?,  ""='"  ''"«'"' '»  """o 
•»c  to  be  moving.  „'  Td"  ,  f  r'P"---"°--«  'hat  it  was 
aadAndr.3  joined  with  Ut  ■■"'  """  '"'"'  ^''"old 

«'um  onee  more  ,„  .  e  v",  re".'"''"^".'"^  ""^  '"°'""""' «» 
only  because  of  their  Liu  L',  ,"'  """  "'^^  ^•'f"-"'''  "». 
overtake  them  on  the  way °a„i  "I  """'^  ''"^'"'"^  ^ould 
'0  cannonade  .he  vesselT^  ^  ""angements  had  been  made 

«ach  .he  slnp,„ndTe',:     „:;;„■:->-;■':  ;'^''"-» 

"Uo",    said  Andre,  by  Smith's 


290 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


account,  "  before  that  can  happen ;  and  the  eame  flag  that 
carried  you  to  the  ship  will  make  you  safe  on  your  return  to 
General  Arnold's  command."     This  indeed  may  have  been 
said  by  or  to  Smith  himself;  but  the  boatmen  testified  that 
they  saw  nothing  of  Arnold  or  of  Andre  after  the  landing : 
that  a  noise  in  the  thicket  was  all  they  heard;  and  that 
Smith's  persuasions  for  them  to  go  back  were  very  languid. 
It  is  clear  that  the  arrangements  were  not  yet  finished, 
or  else  that  Smith  was  ignorant  of  the  momentous  nature  of 
the  affair  he  was  now  involved  in.     His  influence  might  un- 
doubtedly have  compelled  the  men  to  return  ;  and  had  he 
fully  perceived  the  importance  of  so  doing,  he  surely  would 
have  exercised  it.   Even  were  the  trip  concluded  in  daylight, 
it  would  have  been  safer  for  him,  had  he  known  all,  to  have 
had  the  men  detained  with  the  boat  on  the  Vulture  till  a 
week  had  elapsed  and  the  plot  fulfilled.     Perhaps  he  was  a 
little  sullen  at  the  cavalier  treatment  he  had  received,  and 
indifferent  to  Andre's  concern  for  retreat.     But  Mr.  Sparks 
is  of  opinion  that  the  true  reason  for  Andre's  not  going  back 
this  night  was  the  unfinished  condition  of  the  business.    I 
take  it,  however,  that  it  was  just  one  of  those  cases  in  which 
men  are  governed  by  the  circumstances  of  the  moment :  that 
were  the  Colquhouns  willing  Andr^  had  been  sent  back ;  but 
as  they  were  not  so,  and  as  there  were  motives  for  prolong- 
ing the  interview,  Arnold  did  not  press  them.     For  though 
he  might  have  here  given  Andr^  the  papers  afterwards  found 
upon  him,  and  the  principal  details  of  the   manoeuvres  to 
be  executed  by  Clinton,  it  was  impossible  in  the  darkness 
to  thoroughly  explain   the  details.     He  had  brought  from 
head-quarters  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  the  large  official 
plans  of  the  general  works  at  West  Point  and  of  each  par- 
ticular work,  that  were  prepared  by  the  engineer  Duportail. 
It  was  hardly  possible,  even  with  a  dark  lantern,  to  examine 
these  in  the  place  where  he  was.     He  might  have  had  them 
with  him  to  give  to  Andr^  if  he  returned  to  the  Vulture: 
more  probably  they  were  left  at  Smith's  house  to  be  ex- 


and  had  he 


;rn,  to  examine 


INTERVIEW  mm  ARNOLD  AND  ,TS   UKSU..TS.     291 

hiWicd  and  explained  at  ercaler  l<.i.i,r.      a 
stood,  therefore    SmitI,  ,„,7  l  •  ^'  """"""  "O" 

to™;U  their  a«,C  ,;«  ,  1 1";?"  ,'""'  '.'"'  '^•"  ""* 
vant  had  ridden  waa^^l^a  ^^  Z^H^-  "="™  "- 
w.h__Arn„h,   hastened   to   the  L::^::^]-^ 

™tr^s.T:at!;:;r;:;:;:rrr'T''-^""»'" 

have  every  rcZn  ,„  /.e.  ^  ■•"■nembered  .hat,  as  we 

lation  .h7he  Xuld  n'tte'.  l™'  ^^'"'^  "''"  -'"•'  '">"- 
Now,  as  he  en  ted  h"™  r  w  The".  "T  f  ""^  ••°"^- 
-try  was  the  flrs.  inttroTltd  IThtt^  "'  'T 

^^t^n—iaSHr 

existence  ot  the  same  not  on.     This  thonr^r  if  «„    •  j  i.         , 
a  ver,  „a,™w  hound,  is  confuted  br.'o.e.&:"„T:hf 

Tlie  unusual  occurrence  of  an  enemv'»  Mr,  r       • 
K"  in  their  neighborhood  had  Ised Th'e  fear  'and T"°  " 
of  the  inhabitants  and  .he  troops  at  vZunl'THjT 
lion  was  accurately  reported  L  .1,.   "  P""™'      ^er  posi- 
«ored  under  TelferrPoh,.  1  .       T"'""'''"'-    ^^'  ""' 

'  "'•'•  <"-•  ncuF  lu  the 


iiiiii'iiffl 


i 


292 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRft. 


bank  that  she  touched  bottom  at  low  water.   Livingston  there- 
fore had  applied  to  Arnold  for  two  heavy  guns,  with  which  he 
was  confident  he  could  sink  her  ;  but  the  request  was  eva- 
sively denied.     He  then  on  his  own  responsibility  carried  a 
four-pounder  to  a  lesser  promontory  of  Teller's,  known  as 
Gallows  Toint ;  and  at  daylight  of  the  22nd,  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  moment  of  low  tide,  commenced  such  sm  inces- 
sant discharge  on  the  vessel  that  for  a  time  she  "  appeared  to 
be  set  on  fire  " ;  and  had  she  not  floated  off  with  the  flood 
and  dropped  down  beyond  range,  she  probably  would  havo 
been  taken.     Attracted  by  the  noise,  AndrcS  repaired  to  a 
Avindow  which  commanded  a  view  of  the  Vulture,  and  gazed 
painfully  at  her  as  she  passed  down  the  stream.     He  did  not 
attempt  to  hide  from  his  companions  his  annoyance  r^.  her 
change  of  place :  but  breakfast  being  served,  the  three  sat 
down  together  with  a  show  of  tranquillity.    The  conversation 
turned  on  Arbuthnot  and  the  fleet ;  the  royal  army  and  its 
condition  ;  nothing  of  a  particular  nature  was  said  on  any 
side.    After  breakfast,  Arnold  and  Andre  retired  to  an  upper 
chamber  where,  secure  from  interruption,  they  were  closeted 
for  hours  arranging  the  details  of  their  affair. 

Without  a  certain  knowledge  of  what  transpired,  we  are 
still  enabled  to  follow  with  comparative  confidence  the  line 
of  engagements  entered  into.  On  the  one  hand,  Arnold  was 
perfectly  aware  of  the  value  of  what  he  was  to  give  up,  and 
expected  to  be  paid  handsomely.  Clinton  was  as  willing  to 
buy  as  he  to  sell :  he  was,  in  his  own  words,  ready  to  con- 
clude the  bargain  "at  every  risk  and  at  any  cost."  Long- 
time had  circumstances  separated  these  currents  "whicli 
mounting,  viewed  each  other  from  afar  and  strove  in  vain 
to  meet";  and  now  when  the  parties  were  at  last  in  contact, 
it  is  impossible  that  the  terms  of  union  were  not  agreed  on. 
Marbois  says  Arnold's  success  was  to  have  been  rewarded 
with  £30,000  and  the  preservation  of  his  rank ;  and  that  in 
bis  excess  of  caution  he  even  wished  the  money  put  within 
his  control  in  advance. 


Livingston  therc- 
na,  witli  which  he 
request  was  eva- 
isibility  carried  a 
lillerV,  known  as 
id,  taking  advan- 
\  such  an  inccs- 
she  "  appeared  to 
ff  with  the  flood 
ably  would  have 
re  repaired  to  a 
ilture,  and  gazed 
am.     lie  did  not 
nnoyance  a*,  her 
id,  the  three  sat 
rhe  conversation 
j'al  army  and  its 
vas  said  on  any 
iired  to  an  upper 
ey  were  closeted 

• 

inspired,  we  are 
ifidenee  the  line 
and,  Arnold  was 
5  to  give  up,  and 
was  as  willinjT  to 
Is,  ready  to  con- 
ly  cost."  Long- 
urrents  "which 
1  strove  in  vain 
it  last  in  contact, 
I  not  agreed  on. 
been  rewarded 
nk ;  and  that  in 
loney  put  within 


>vnil  AKNOLD  AND  ITS  IJKSULTS.      293 

1"^  in.cn.ion  i„  cL,lf  nZu  ..     ""'■"  "',""  ""'^  '^'^^■""■^ 
'l^fllea  that  M  ,o  1  ^rr      ■   ""'"  "'«  ""•""y  "•  "'» 

Poached  ,„c  wif  ltC£<^'V"""  "'■"  '""y  »"■ 
s..boi,di„alc8  wl,o  had  l,on?l     ?  ^  ""8"°"'  ""''  '"'  other 

solution,  wo,.,d  .t  hr  ":  :' lo  ^bf "'  °°"™"'°"  ""' 
o..t  suspicion.     Wasl,in..i    '  .^"^  ""  "^"^'O"  «"'"•- 

doraonstration  to  abandon  the  post  „t  Z""  T"  "'  """"' 
eentratc  everything  at  West  plf  N^i  •*""'■*' °"'' <'""- 
suited   him  better"  fi.r  V      .        .  """"S  "o"'-!  have 

a..^.dap.ed  ^t:,;,^^;!^  :\^ir  "^'•'"'' 

stream.      And  with  n  „«n„    i    71  Progress  up  the 

a  line  of  deflee     „S  ft,  ^''""''''  "'""■'"='-'  ^""h 

ll.at  these  should  be  as  lUtle  nlf  >  °  "°*-'-     ^"' 

>«-"ounti„g  the  heavie  t  g    s    ,  ow^n.T  '"°'  '"  '"'"''  "^ 
-onr„  &e.,  in  various  wa^s  »  ^^^,.1";™  ^r'^  ?'  "«= 

of  addmg  to  its  strencrfh  r.,.*  *i     /•  lairest  pretences 

even  With  a  faitm'm':  deHttlr  t'"  T'  "  ^'"'^  "' 
A  broach  was  n,„dc  in  .he  tu  7FoXt„:: 'r^t 
;'l"0l'  a  section  eould  march  abreast  •  a^d  1,  .  'J"'' 
loose  boards  closed  the  aperture     No  2  "*  "'"'  "  ^'^ 

for  the  troops  in  the  redoubt  i  >  J  "=  '"^  VrovideA 
-  Kosoiuslfo's  Un2ttlsJ^-\'"  '"'""'^"°"' ''"°™ 

^iinton  and  Rodney,  who  should  advance  against 

Ma St,  Clair  to  Greene  •  Or/  «/*   i  Ton     -r. 

preserved  in  the  Heath  MSS  show  lof  '•  '  ■^'*"'""'  «^  '^«  s«'ne  date 
">e  works  at  that  period  tgetrwUhlSi?  T'."""  ^'  ""  ^^''^^^  '" 
-'.ta.y  stores.     The  h^r^^esr^.t^  ::rttY„;tf  ^^^^ 


-  '   ! 


294 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


Wuat  Point  by  land  and  water.     The  route,  the  place  of 
dc'barcatlon,  all  was  agreed  upon  :  and  while  our  men  should 
bo  detached  in  various  bodies  to  remote  and  seimratcd  gorges, 
the  English  through  the  unguarded  passes  were  to  fall  on 
them  in  front  and  in  rear,  and  so  dispose  of  their  bands  ns 
to  encompass  and  capture  in  detail  our  betrayed  soldiery. 
Hemmed  in  on  every  side  by  rugged  acclivities  or  superior 
forces,  there  would  be  no  alternative  but  to  yield  or  be  mowed 
down.     The  very  guns  and  other  signals  to  announce  Clin- 
ton's progress  were  prescribed.     That  no  mi.sund(!rstanding 
should  occur,  the   largo  and  elaborate  official  plans  of  the 
forts  i.id  the  surrounding  country  were  spread  before  the 
negotiators ;  and  there  were  plenty  of  men  in  the  royal  camp 
who  were  competent  guides  to  every  mountain  path  and  de- 
file.    Indeed  Clinton  himself  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
ground  as  far  as  King's  Ferry,  and,  as  we  are  told,  hud 
visited  West  Point  itself  in  1777,  ere  yet  the  works  were 
erected.     That  Rodney's  flotilla  might  meet  with  no  dilli- 
culty,  Arnold  had  taken  a  most  secure  precaution.   A  mighty 
chain,  each  link  of  which  weighed  240  pounds,  was  carried 
by  anchors  and  huge  buoys  across  the  stream  to  obstruct  the 
passage  of  a  hostile  fleet;  and  water-batteries  were  so  placed 
as  to  crush  any  attempts  to  destroy  or  remove  it.     Under 
pretence  of  necessary  repairs,  he  had  a  link  withdrawn,  which 
was  not  to  be  replaced  for  some  days  :  and  meantime  a  slight 
knot,  that  would  yield  to  almost  any  concussion,  was  the  only 
bond  that  held  the  boom  together  and  preserved  the  false 
semblance  of  a  real  impediment.     Marbois  tells  us  that  when 
Clinton  should  be  within  three  miles  of  the  place,  two  of  his 
officers  in  American  uniforms  were  to  come  at  full  gallop  to 
Arnold's  quarters,  receive  his  final  words,  and  hasten  back  to 
Rodney.     Then  the  Americans  remaining  in  the  works  were 
to  be  stationed  in  positions  that  should  not  be  attacked ;  for 
it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  West  Point  was  so  constructed 
that  the  possession  of  its  superior  fortresses  gave  command 
of  all  the  others.    He  also  alleges  that  the  25th  or  2Gtli  Sep- 


>-n»/ 


INTERVIEW   VVrril  ARNOLD  AND  ITS   RESULTS.      2D5 

tomber  was  assigned  for  the  consummation  of  the  conspiracy  • 
and  seems  to  connect  this  with  a  proposal  urged  by  AndrJ 
bu   resisted  by  Arnold  for  the  seizure  of  Washfngton  and  his 
«u. te,  wJio  would  then  bo  on  return  from  Hartford.     Wash- 
...gton  and  Hamilton  however  concur  in  thinking  this  scheme 
was  not  planned.     A  British  subaltern  gives  the  version  of 
the  notions  entertained  at  the  time  in  the  best  unofficial  cir- 
cles  of  the  kmg  s  army :  -  "  ^ho  plan,  had  not  Major  Andre 
been  discovered,  was  that  Sir  Hy.  Clinton  on  a  certain  day 
agreed  upon  betweer.  him  and  Genl.  Arnold  was  to  lay  siege 

W     '.     f'^T     ^'"'-  '^••"'''^  ^"^  immediately  to  send  to 
Washington  for  a  reinforcement,  and  before  that  could  arrive 
10  surrender  the  place.     Sir  Henry  was  then  to  make  a  dis- 
I>osit.on  to  surprise  the  reinforcement,  which  probably  would 
have  been  commanded  by  Genl.  Washington  in  person.    Had 
tlus  succeeded,  it  must  have  put  an  end  to  the  war."  ♦    How- 
ever  this  be  it  is  very  certain,  as  Heath  remarks,  that  Andre's 
capture  was  in  a  very  critical  moment  and  prevented  the 
most  serious  consequences  to  our  cause. 

We  now  come  to  the  most  extraordinary  part  of  the  whole 
transaction ;  the  committal  by  Arnold,  who  had  hitherto  been 

lZ7r'^'"^t"-'  P"P^'''^  ^"^"^'••^  which,  discovered, 
Was  ed  the  entire  affair.     These  were  not  of  a  nature  to  be 

0   absolute  service  to  Clinton.     They  were  not  plans  of  the 
CO  n try  or  of  the  forts.     They  contained  nothing  that  might 
not  have  been  carried  in  their  bearer's  memory.     A  sylla- 
bus of  their  most  important  contents  might  have  been  con- 
veyed in  a  memorandum  of  two  lines  innocent  in  purport  or 
unintelligible  to  any  but  its  maker.     But  they  were  docu- 
ments tlmt  could  not  have  come  from  any  hand  but  Arnold's 
own  and  their  possession  would  enable  Clinton  to  compel  a 
ulfiiment  of  h.s  engagements.     My  theory  therefore  is  that 
they  were  either  tendered  by  Arnold  or  exacted  by  Andre 
as  a  pledge  of  fidelity.     Perhaps  Andre  was  already  distrust- 
»ul  by  reason  of  his  inveiglement  into  our  lines  ;  perhaps  he 

*  Mathew  MS. 


i'^l 


296 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


il'lUll'!' 


dreaded  in  the  hour  of  performance  a  betrayal  of  the  plot 
such  as  was  witnessed  at  Seaton-Niddrie  in  the  Douglass 
Wars ;  but  evidently  the  papers  he  now  took  in  hand  against 
his  general's  orders  were  not  necessary  for  his  general's  in- 
struction.     They  were  six  in  number. 

(1.)  An  Estimate  of  the  forces  at  West  Point  and  its  de- 
pendencies,  Sept.  13th,  1780:  showing  a  total  of  3086  men 
of  all  sorts. 

(2.)  An  Estimate  of  the  number  of  men  necessary  to  man 
the  works  at  West  Point  and  its  vicinity,  showing  a  total,  ex- 
clusive of  the  artillery  corps,  of  2438  troops. 

(3.)  Artillery  Orders  issued  by  Major  Bauman,  Sept.  5th, 
1780,  showing  the  disposition  of  that  corps  in  an  alarm. 

(4.)  Major  Bauman's  return  of  the  Ordnance  in  the  dif- 
ferent forts,  batteries,  «fec.  at  West  Point  and  its  dependencies, 
Sept.  5,  1780 :  showing  the  distribution  of  100  pieces. 

(5.)  Copy  of  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  affairs  sub- 
mitted by  Washington  to  a  Council  of  War,  Sept.  6th,  1780. 
(6.)  "Remarks  on  Works  at  Wt.  Point,  a  Copy  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  his  Excell'y  General  Washington,  Sep'r  1780. 

Fort  Arnold  is  built  of  Dry  Fascines  and  Wood,  is  in  a 
ruinous  condition,  incompleat,  and  subject  to  take  Fire  from 
Shells  or  Carcasses. 

Fort  Putnam,  Stone,  Wanting  great  repairs,  the  wall  on  the 
East  side  broke  down,  and  rebuilding  From  the  Foundation ; 
at  the  West  and  South  side  have  been  a  Chevaux-de-Frise,' 
on  the  West  side  broke  in  many  Places.  The  East  side 
open;  two  Bomb  Proofs  and  Provision  Magazine  in  the 
Fort,  and  Slight  Wooden  Barrack.  — A  commanding  piece 
of  ground  500  yards  West,  between  the  Fort  and  No.  4  — 
or  Rocky  Hill. 

Fort  Webb,  built  of  Fascines  and  Wood,  a  slight  Work, 
very  dry,  and  liable  to  be  set  on  fire,  as  the  approaches  are 
very  easy,  without  defenses,  save  a  slight  Abattis. 

Fort  Wyllys,  built  of  stone  5  feet  high,  the  Work  above 


trayal  of  the  plot 
in  the  Douglass 

k  in  hand  against 
his  general's  in- 


i*oint  and  its  de- 
ntal of  3086  men 

necessary  to  man 
)wing  a  total,  ex- 
;. 

luman,  Sept.  5th, 
n  an  alarm, 
ance  in  the  dif- 
its  dependencies, 
00  pieces. 
a  of  affairs  sub- 
Sept.  6th,  1780. 
^opy  to  be  trans- 
Sep'r  1780. 
d  Wood,  is  in  a 
take  Fire  from 

!,  the  wall  on  the 
he  Foundation ; 
levaux-de-Frise, 
The  East  side 
fagazine  in  the 
nmanding  piece 
t  and  No.  4  — 


PAPERS  TAKEN  BY  ANDRfi.  297 

Eedoub.  No.  1  o„!rSo  fh  ^^""7"'"""  "'"  ^°"- 
WL  North  and  East.id  ,  4  fee  IM  '  '""  "'"'''  "■" 
worn  a  .U,U  a„d  si„^hl^'J^  -"»  V' 
non  on  two  Batteries.    No  Bomb  Proofe  ^'"'- 

8  feet  his,,  and  fo„.  .'mI^'S   BoU^pI";'"  "  ^'""^  ™" 
«.-;...  Ahatt..  a  co„„andS:^r/':r;;X"ot 

JiH1l;,!t^n:td^-^^^^ 

"r:^:!th:ttifat  Jr-  '"^?  ^~ '--' - 

~'^  ,f „'  r*  ^"S^"'^  '^'P"» '"  Pitch,  &T  ^"^"^ 

South  Redoubt,  much  the  same  as  the  North  ,  r 

zzzt""^  .00  ,a.ds  due  Ea:t!:rrtte^~ 

!  «»  the  briefest  s^Habt  "f  ."      """"''"'  '"  ™™'«  ""o-^ 
I  one  would  Tnk  m  1,        I""''""'  ""''  "■'=»  ""■» '"^1. 

*.  ineom';:ir  Xt^e-un:  iTh: -"-T 

onginals,  however,  Andre  owpri  i  •    i  !'  '     ""'''"^  ''^^ 

["....-jrc  ::.':.:-:•:  :::?-.■;- 


t^ 


298 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


Arnold  made  Andre  take  off  his  boots,  and  conceal  three  of 
the  documents  between  each  stocking  and  the  sole  of  his  foot. 
It  is  not  likely  these  dangerous  testimonials  would  have 
been  received  had  their  bearer  not  still  believed  himself  des- 
tined to  go  to  the  Vulture,  which  was  now  returned  to  the 
vicinity  of  her  former  position.     Before  ten  a.  m.  of  the 
22nd,  Arnold  took  his  farewell  and  set  off  in  his  barge  for 
head-quarters.     "Before   we  parted,"   says   Andre,   "*some 
mention  had  been  made  of  my  crossing  tlie  river  and  go- 
ing another  route;    but  I  objected   much   against  it,  and 
thought  it  was  settled  that  in  the  way  I  came  I  was  to  re- 
turn."    But  that  it  was  not  definitely  so  arranged  appears 
from  Arnold's  injunction  that  if  he  went  by  land  he  should 
exchange  his  uniform  coat  for  another  to  be  supplied  by 
Smith.     To  this,  though  pressed  peremptorily,  Andr^  yielded 
a  reluctant  consent.     "  I  was  induced  to  put  on  this  wretched 
coat ! "  said  he  afterwards,  touching  the  sleeve  of  his  disguise. 
The  following  safe-conducts  were  also  calculated  for  either 
passage :  — 

Bead  Quarters,  Jiobinson's  House,  Sep'r  22d,  1780.— 
Joshua  Smith  has  permission  to  pass  with  a  boat  and  three 
hands  and  a  flag  to  Dobb's  Ferry,  on  public  business,  and  (o 
return  immediately.  B.  Arnold,  M.  Gen. 

Head  Quarters,  EoUnson's  House,  Sep'r  22d,  1780.- 
Joshua  Smith  has  permission  to  pass  the  guards  to  the  White 
Plains,  and  to  return  ;  he  being  on  public  business  by  my  di- 
^•ection.  B.  Arnold,  M.  Gen. 

Head  Quarters,  RohinsorCs  House,  Sep'r  22d,  1780.- 
Permit  Mr.  John  Anderson  to  pass  the  guards  to  the  White] 
Plains,  or  below,  if  he  chuses.  He  being  on  Public  Busi- 
ness by  my  Direction.  B.  Arnold,  M.  Gen. 

When  Arnold  was  gone,  Andre  passed  the  anxious  day  in  I 
waiting  for  Smith  to  take  him  off.  His  host's  whole  account! 
of  the  affair  is  so  shuffling  and  evasive,  and  so  contradictoil 


by  t 

sup£ 

on  J 

the  J 

appa 

avow 

day  i 

form 

Beek 

want 

I  him. 

forme 

disgui 

of  thif 

appea; 

that  a 

worm 

ested  1; 

joinini 

my  me 

counter 

wish  tc 

from  an 

Smit] 

I  whig,  ai 

of  some 

through 

l)y  land 

him  by 

made  no 

off  by  tl 

stated  thi 

nection  v 

get  intell 

omitted  n 

course  wj 


id  conceal  three  of 
the  sole  of  his  foot, 
lonials  would  have 
lieved  himself  des- 
)w  returned  to  the 
ten  A.  M.  of  the 
ff  in  his  barge  for 
ys   Andre,   "some 
the  river  and  go- 
sh against  it,  and 
came  I  was  to  re- 
arranged appears 
by  land  he  should 
:o  be  supplied  by 
pily,  Andr^  yielded 
it  on  this  wretched 
eve  of  his  disguise. 
Iculated  for  either 


PLANS  FOR  RETURN. 


299 


pV  22ff,  1780.- 
1  a  boat  and  three 
c  business,  and  to 
NOLO,  M.  Gen. 

9V  22ff,  1780.- 
lards  to  the  White 
msiness  by  my  di- 
NOLD,  M.  Gen. 

//•  22cf,  1780.- 
ards  to  the  White  I 
on  Public  Busi- 
ffOLD,  M.  Gen. 

le  anxious  day  in 
st's  whole  account 
d  so  contradicted 


h  the  evidence  of  his  own  Trial  thnf , 
suppose  him  from  first  to  lit  ^  .  ""'"  "^'^P^"^^  ^o 

on  Arnold's  part.  Ti  h  fto TsT'  ''  ""'"^''"'  '^'^'^^^ 
t'^e  English  public  did  ^XlV:itr:i  ^"xf  "^^  " 
apparently  things  in  l,i»  canil„M  ,i   .T   ,  ^^"'"'  "«■''= 

Jay  in  a  fruitless  elrtTo't'nn  "T™^''  •""•'  "^  ""e 

form  belonging  to  L  i.   t!  '^  w1?"  "^  ""  ^""=™™  ™i- 

Bee.„an.s\oLr^r/cir''^,f 'r  ""'  "'  *''^- 
want  of  authority  to  receive   /     1  ^^^'  suspected  his 

kirn.    As  Webb^a;:  Xl  'rrrof""  '^"■'"  "  "'' '" 
former's  uniform  would  have  i^eroP  """"  '''^'""' 

disguised  progress  through  our  iTne-I  ?1  '"™''  '"  ""= 
of  this  sort  was  susnp^,.,!     ,  J        '  ''"'  "'^  """''''  "<>""ng 

appears  in  SmUh-rSt;  tM""-  t"""^'^^^  '""^ 
that  carries  convietion  wTH  "■"  °  "  ?"''  "''  "^'"^ 
worm  the  seeret  of  h"s  Lul  1 ,  ""^'""=<'«^f°lly  sought  to 
ested  but  the  prolct  „fd       ."""""''  "''°"'  "°">''"S  ■■»"=■- 

joining  the  ^1^^^^:':^^^/"^^  "'  ^ 
m  memory  ceasp  fn  ,.^«    j  .v    •         "^  gazed.       JVever  can 

i.en..errn?  t'rrg^t^ftrrti?-'-  f  '"^ 

wish  to  be  on  board  iha  v  n  ,  expressed  his 

fi- an  upper  wLltlf'^nJt::"'"  ™"'""  """  ^'"> 

Smith  had  three  courses  to  pursue      If  i. 
whig,  and  distrusted  Arnold  he  sll"  i,  ""'  "  '""""-" 

of  some  of  the  neighbor„„  offleet  '  ^  "'"°"  """"'" 
f  ™«1.  with  his  under.aki°n°,TeTh„uld  ltv"1  '  ">"  '"  «° 
by  land  with  Andre;  or  he  should  h  '""'"''  ^'  °"™ 

Mm  by  water  in  the  eominV'^ft  H^lT"'.*"  ""'"^ 
,■».*  no  attempt  to  again  e„:a"e  t^  h  f  ''  "'='"""••  »« 
loff  by  the  land  route  tHM?!^  "'  "'"' '"'"  ''<'  *«' 

,«ed  that  he  ma  et  s    reUo  ^!T'  T"'    ''  "■"'  "" 
'wtion  with  Mr  AnderZ  ''"  ""='  "f  '"^  ■=<>"- 

''^-  "'diligence  f^m  New  To'rrira^'r  "^  ^'""'^  "• 
omitted  no  opnortunitv  „f       j    •'  "'"  '"""=  "''"e  he 

«rae  was  to  be  u„I  .'?'"?  ™  '""""''''''■'  ""«  "-eir 
be  up  the  nver  to  head-quarlers,  rather  than 


300 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


down  towards  the  city.  As  for  the  tale  that  he  was  imposed 
on  by  Arnold  to  believe  that  his  guest  was  a  young  trades- 
man from  New  York  who  in  vanity  had  borrowed  a  British 
uniform,  it  is  effectually  contradicted  by  his  half-admission 
that  he  saw  him  in  the  coat  upon  the  Vulture,  and  the  fact 
that  Robinson  and  Sutherland  were  in  his  company  when  he 
left  the  vessel  in  this  very  gear.  But  about  the  ague,  that 
rendered  a  night  on  the  water  injurious  to  his  comfort  and 
health,  there  is  less  room  for  cavil ;  and  though  there  is  no 
doubt  that  he  might,  had  he  strongly  wished  it,  have  found 
means  to  convey  Andr^  on  board,  he  had  at  least  a  fair  show 
of  reasoning  for  preferring  to  escort  him  by  the  shore. 

Mounted  on  a  horse  furnished  by  Arnold  and  accompanied 
by  Smith  and  his  negro,  Andre  at  length  started  for  New 
York.     Had  he  been  possessed  of  more  knowledge  of  the 
habits  and  customs  of  all  classes  in  this  country,  or  had 
greater  confidence  existed  between   his   host   and  himself, 
there  were  a  thousand  chances  to  one  that  the  black  fellow 
could  have  served  his  turn  better  than  any  man  that  had 
been  thought  of.     Every  one  knows  how  apt  at  clandestine 
practices  is  the  black  domestic  servant  of  America.    If  a 
negro  would  go  to  a  nocturnal  frolic  twenty  miles  from  his 
master's  home,  the  choicest  steed  in  the  stable  will  be  found 
dripping  in  his  stall  on  the  ensuing  morning,  nor  can  any  one 
discover  the  cause.     If  a  piece  of  household  gossip  that  oc- 
curs at  bedtime  is  known  ere  daybreak  to  half  the  kitchens 
in  the  community,  the  informant  is  surely  a  negro.     To  an 
obstinate  perverseness  which  often  rises  into  almost  chivalric 
fidelity  of  disposition  is  united  in  the  negro's  character  a  cer- 
tain spice  of  his  savage  origin  that  not  only  tells  him  bread 
eaten  in  secret  is  sweet  and  stolen  waters  pleasant;  but 
which  leads  him  in  a  manner  to  outwit  the  cunning  of  nature. 
The  shortest  and  surest  path  through  a  swamp  ;  the  most 
secluded  nook  or  narrowest  channel  among  a  thousand  islets 
of  the  coast  is  sure  to  be  known  to  the  wanderer  in  dark- 
ness as  well  as  his  own  fireside.     Had  Andre  and  Smith  at 


PLANS  FOR  EETURN.  g^j 

this  moment  interested  their  attendant  wUh  «  a 

iisho,a„  „„  the  deio  i:fv„t:;'"if''r  """■"  "r  ^"^- 

lion  scores  of  friends  wl,o  w^r  a '?.  '"'^''"''  "^"^ 

an  experienced  navigator  woum'w      t  ""T  "^  '''"^  "'"• 
sH^-3  side  ere  .He  re„:;r:rd\r  ^i^fetddTe' '^ 

CranTi?  :„  jsr :  th  r '"  -- 

Andr.  perhaps,  lil  .he  ^nl  cava,  er  0^1^ ■"•  u  *'^' 
fess  his  confidence  in  the  nower  ?h!  I  5  "'='"  P™" 
rather  .han  in  .he  da/s  nL"; Z.  tH;  OrTJ"  T 
any  heed  of  omens  in  .!.„  »„,•  <■   ■•  "'  '^  ""^  '«>k 

h/condi.i„n Tine"  td  ™?.    °"  ""  """«  ^^^''^  '">- 
words    of  Home     11   f  "'""'..^"^P'-'e,  the  glorious 

bought:  _  .he^Ltt cf''ri3tSe  Z7  ^"^ 
try.  "  **  ^"  siriKc  tor  your  coun- 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


^::: 


•■^1 


Andrd'8  Journey.  -  Westchester  County.  —  Skinners  and  Cow-boys.  - 
Andrd'a  Capture.  —  Various  Accounts  of  its  Circumstances. 

The  evening  twiliglit  was  setting  in  when  the  travellers 
crossed  the  Hudson  at  King's  Ferry,  about  two  miles  north- 
west of  Smith's  house.     To  his  acquaintance  on  the  road  and 
to  the  officers  of  Verplanck's,  Smith  professed  his  destination 
to  be  Robinson's  house;  but  while  he  paused  to  chat  and 
drink,   liis   companion   eschewed  all  conversation  or  delay 
and  passed  slowly  on.     Andre's  dress  at  this  moment  was  a 
purple  or  crimson  coat  with  vellum-bound  button-holes  and 
garnished  with  threadbare  gold-lace,  which,  with  a  tarnished 
beaver  hat,  he  had  obtained  from  his  guide.     The  remainder 
of   his   apparel   was   his   military   undress;    nankin   small- 
clothes and  handsome  white-topped  boots.     Over  all  was  his 
well-worn  watch-coat  with  its  heavy  cape,  buttoned  closely 
about  his  neck.     From  Verplanck's  the  road,  with  its  ancient 
guide-post,  Dishe  his  di  Roode  toe  de  Kshing's  Farry,  led 
northwesterly  for  fourteen  miles  towards  Salem ;  intersected 
however  at  three  miles  distance  by  the  dfrect  highway  from 
Peekskill  through  Tarrytown  to  New  York,  that  follows  the 
river  and  crosses  the  neck  of  Teller's  Point.     This  would 
perhaps  have  been  the  best  course  for  Andre  to  have  pur- 
sued, had  not  Smith's  false   answers  made  it  dangerous  to 
have  turned  so  soon  down  the  river  instead  of  up.     By  it  tiie 
distance  from  Verplanck's    to    Dobb's    Ferry,  where   were 
probably  at  this  moment  British  gun-boats,  was  but  about 
tvventy-two  miles;  and  to    Tarrytown    but   about   nineteen. 
Five  and  a  half  miles  from  Verplanck's  another  road  from 
Peekskill  intersects  that  to  Salem,  and  bending  away  through 


and  Cow-boys. — 
ircumstances. 

n  the  travellers 
wo  miles  north- 
on  the  road  and 
I  his  destination 
sed  to  chat  and 
sation  or  delay 
3  moment  was  a 
(utton-holes  and 
■ith  a  tarnished 
The  remainder 
nankin   small- 
>ver  all  was  his 
mttoned  closely 
with  its  ancient 
ng's  Farry,  led 
5m ;  intersected 
t  highway  from 
that  follows  the 
t.     This  would 
(3  to  have  pur- 
t  dangerous  to 
up.     By  it  the 
'',  where  were 
was  but  about 
bout   nineteen, 
ther  road  from 
J  away  through 


ym.m'i 


"ilaia 


ANDRJSs  JOURNEV.  gQ,, 

llio  iiilorior  crosses  Ihc  Ciolon  at  Pino'^  R,.ri 
'1.0  distance  by  i,  ,„  Tarrvlo"„    af  Tn  1,^     °''  ""''  ""''"'■' 

was  «'»ut  equally  direct  to  White  PW„s  '  """" 

;e^r.:::^,t;;™irtt;:„rr'Kr''r 

reluctant  to  talk,  and  anxious  only  to  J  on      W*  ^^' 

and  nine  r.  m.  they  stumbled  L  osf  an  Arn  .  '"  ""'"! 
under  Captain  Boyd,  .ho  oorn.ZTtZTjZitT' 
pass  and  declare  their  errnnd      *?m,M.  i    i        ,  ^''^"" 

utterin-  his  tale  uZ  ih  ^  ''""^  "'  hesitation  in 

%nc/./;^;;iXTr.ert::.£ 
r^rsied^:;-:^^^^^^^^^^^ 

their  proceeding  further  Ua't  nil      I  7'  ™  ^^P^'^  '" 
disconcerted  at  oil  ,  •        T     °         ^"'"'''^  ""'  "»'  "  ""le 

forwat^tde  ;it:o  '2:;'  ,7™'^'vr  '"""■  "•  p-" 

ful  of  excitln/r  I      ^       ^""^  '  "*"'  '"^  g"'de  was  fear- 

no  fire  i„i  •sr:;:j;p-<'" """  ■"'''"=" "- «-« 

for  ,  UJ  •       u  ""'  '"»'^'=  ■■^commended  to  tlicm 

for  a  lodgmg  he  sought  sorae  miles  back  the  dwellinVon 

—"e  t"hisf  ""'  ";■"•"'  "•  ''™'"  -o-hTo  ?nd"r-. 

author  tv      He  e    t,"^'""'    ""'  "'"  ''"»™"<'"  "f  ">«  ^ng's 

di  t™st  of  the  r'  T"'?  '"'™"''"'='' '  •"■'  »"<="'  -- 
relirtirh,  v^  "mes  that  the  farmer  would  not  himself 
.  t.re  t,ll  he  had  seen  his  two  guests  ensconced  in  one  bed 

™m  ^"  '"'"^  '""■^'^  »'■  «»  hi^  """■'^  =  noverMess  he 
"ould  take  no  pay  for  his  humble  accommodations. 

robtd  S  T1  ?  ■■""''''  "'8'"'  '""^'"S  "nd  ^'g''i"S  till  he 

il'rL     ;      ""^  "f '  g'™P^^  of  dawn  was  „p  and  s.irrin. 

fh    f  "™^'  /''  '""='"  "»  ""S™  ""■>  bade  him  bri"'^ 
out  the  horses;  and  without  waiting  for  breakfast,  the  part^ 


304 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDKt. 


mt  forth  bcLmo...    When  <he  horses  appeared,  .he  haggard 
counlenanoe  which  betrayed  a  sleepless  conch,  lightened  up 
WH  .  pleasure  ,  and  a  serener  expression  supplanted  its  un- 
mislakable  dejeehon  while  tlie  journey  lessened  under  their 
lee  .     As  the  fear  of  detection  subsided,  his  spirits  rose  pro- 
port,onaliy  to  their  late  depression.     He  was  fdled  with  the 
sense  of  the  awful  dangers  he  had  fallen  into  ,  of  the  intmi! 
nent  prospect  of  His  extrication  ft^ra  an  unforeseen  whirlpool 
that  had  .nvolved  h,s  life  and  his  fame ,  and  of  the  prodigLus 
results  that  would  ensue  his  deliverance.     Behind  lay  de^  I 
and  shnrne  ,  before  him,  gloty,  happiness,  and  renown      U n! 
able  to  reveal  to  h,s  companion  the  secret  cause  of  his  swell, 
.ng  sans  action,  he  gave  it  vent  th^gh  another  channel,  and 
bust  u.to  a  fi«,d  of  animated  discourse.     Everything  that 

Z  T!r,  f  P""""''  "f  ""^  •'"S'"  ''"<^^  of  his  mind,  and 
the  dehghted  hstener  was  fain  to  note  the  change  frotL  hi, 
previous  reticence  and  gloom. 

JniT  ^T^  '"■"  """'"y  e""=rtaining:  he  was  not  only 

1  at  of  America,  particularly  New  York,  which  he  termed 
th.  residuary  legatee  of  the  British  government,  (for  it  took 
all  the  rematnmg  lands  not  granted  to  the  proprietary  and 
chartered  provinces).  He  had  consulted  thelrLes  af  wel 
as  Mars,  for  he  conversed  freely  on  the  belles-lettres:  music 
pamting,  and  poetry,  seemed  to  be  his  delight.  Hedisplayrf 
a  judicious  taste  in  the  choice  of  the  aut'hors  he  1  JS 
professed  great  elegance  of  sentiment,  and  a  most  pke^^ 

gaAe  birth  to  and  continued  the  war,  and  said  if  there  was  a 
corresponding  temper  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  witMI. 

ZllLT  1'  '""■"""''  """  "''""'"''  '"=■•«  'hen  in 
Se  Fr.!  ."^"■"'P"^'™™'  of  that  desirable  object, 
before  France  could  accomplish  her  perfidious  designs.  He 
Mncerely  wished  the  fate  of  the  war  could  alone  TdetV.! 


m 


andr£s  journev. 


805 


*fVO 

around  u,s,  und  parlieularlv  adm,rp,l  f.  °  "=™"->' 

tl.c  grandeur  of  he  UmILjT    .'  ""^  «n,i„ence, 

converse,  and  the  mildness  „f  ,.  ,       1''"""""-^  of 

beguiled  ,he  ,im„,  .ha  tat  len!^.  T""?''  "^  '"'""''"''' 
Bridge  before  I  thought  we  ll,  "f  h  U'T  '""'"'''■'  "'  "'" 
had  reason  to  thinle  mv  Ml„»  ,  ^  ""  ""^^  '">''  ^  "<'«' 
.on  from  the  ehar  L7l  tad  Tttt t^  "  Tf-  '"^-'"'  P- 

As  they  approached  P taet  Bridt     r  1        '""•"  * 
ton  about  twelve  miles  l,v^L         °  '  ^    "''  """"=»  "'^  Cro- 
P-nused  to  bait  ..ierr  t  i  a  d  .::eTk  td  ""r"""''''- '""' 
tage,  whose  mistress  had  buTthe  „  !h^h  ?    ""  ""^''''<'  «"■ 
Ihe  Skinners  or  Cow-bovs  of  aU    f  "  ^'"'  '^'""^  >-/ 

«»1  «nd  a  single  cow  tTh  '^T"^^''  »■"«  "  li«le 
however,  was  nol  meaTuL  I'  hettrdr  f'  '7'""''^' 
and  her  meal  she  prepared  a  sort  nf  1       m  *"  ''"  "'"'' 

pom  that  the  travellcrlnr  '''"  P"'"''?^  °'-  «<»- 

an-ple  justice  to  wh  ^  1  ^  ^Tthr^f^' '''"™'' ''''' 
which  one  of  them  had  s^°l  ,  >  ,  ^"temptuous  sport 
Cow-Chasc.  '"  '""'^  '"=-"°«'«'J  on  "  in  The 

During  breakfast  Smith  informed  l.i.  „„ 
;»«on  to  part.     His  understand",  w  th Tnold"  "'  ',''"  '"■ 
mue  to  White  Plains:  and  had  he°fI^Setit  IrV  "":: 

^^  ^-  stopped  b,  the  eaptorfSl  lit^^^ri^tatt 
*  Smith's  Narr.  44 


^5 


30G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDH6. 


would  have  caniijil  the  matter  throu;;li  and  without  hesita- 
tioti.     In  truth,  ho  was  probably  afraid  of  compromising  him- 
self  by  a  Ion;;,.,-  stay  with  one  who  evidently  was  not  what 
ho  seemed :  or  hr.  may  have  dreaded  encountering  the  Cow- 
boys  below  Pine's  ]iridge ;  for  the  Croton  was  regarded  as 
the  boundary  between  the   English  and  Americans  of  the 
debatable  land,  or,  in  the  langimgc  of  the  day,  the  Neutral 
Ground.     Andre  had  no  means  of  opposing  this  determina- 
tion ;  nor  was  he  perhaps  sorry,  now  that  he  was  almost  out 
of  danger,  to  be'quit  of  his  comrade.     While  Smith  was  pay- 
ing  for  the  breakfast,  however,  he  mentioned  his  own  condi- 
tion as  to  funds,  and  borrowed  one-half  of  the  stock  of  paper- 
money  in  his  guide's  wallet.     At  parting,  says  Smith,  he  be- 
trayed some  emotion.     He  charged  himself  with  a  message  to 
his  own  acquaintance  and  Smith's  brother,  the  Chief-justicp, 
and  vainly  urged  the  acceptance  of  his  gold  watch,  as  a  keep' 
sake,  on  his  guide.    With  mutual  good  wishes  they  separated ; 
and  Smith  hastened  with  his  servant  up  the  road  ;  dined  at 
head-quarters  with  Arnold,  whom  he  represents  as  satisfied 
with  his  conduct ;  and  supped  on  the  next  evening  at  P'ish- 
kill  with  Washington  and  his  suite. 

Westchester  County,  through  which  Andre  now  pursued 
his  solitary  way,  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  contest  signal- 
ized by  its  loyalty.     Throngs  of  its  people  not  only  publicly 
avowed  their  intention  to  stand  by  the  king  and  to  shoot  down 
any  who  came  in  the  name  of  Congress  to  disarm  them,  but 
even  put  a  measurable  restraint  upon  the  whigs ;   and  re- 
torted in  kind  many  of  those  rude  monitions  of  "popular  dis- 
pleasure that  in  other  places  the  tories  were  subjected  to. 
If  a   prominent   whig   found    his  fences   thrown   down,  or 
the  manes  and  tails  of  his  choicest  horses  disfigured  by  the 
clipping-shears,  he  knew  it  was  a  political  enemy  that  had 
done  this.     Much  of  the  soil,  particularly  towards  the  Hud- 
son, was  vested  in  large  proprietors,  —  the  Philipses,  Col- 
dens^  De  Lancys,  and  Van  Cortlandts,  —  and  by  them  culti- 
vated or  leased  out  in  small  farms ;  so  that  in  its  extent  of 


THE  SKINNERS  AND  COW-BOYS.  307 

•''irfy  miles,  it  },«,!  presented  one   of  thn 

alone  pro  M  bv     M  „v  "  !„!  "''T"'  """  "™'  "™'- 

participated  in  tl.o^n  1    i  •.       '"""^'^7-     JNominally,  such  as 
Skinners  stole  for  fh*.  onir«  ^p  /-.  »    '  ^"^ 

purse  of  gold  to  be  viddT     'n  '  °  .™"'"^  "'^'  ""•  " 

;-0fte„%er30„auClnce    ":be;rrr2e''„tr 
league,  and  playing  )„,„  „„,,,  „^,^^.   ,,„^j7"L Te  "      ?^ 

were  genen.,.,  .cbgees  who  had  be  fetpelS  f^rS 
homes  and  driven  to  rc.ide  within  the  British  h-nT   T  ' 
m  rr; '  ?'  "''"'"'  !"  °"^ """"O' -J  ProfeXattach 

rs- gt  t-  '^rdr:ra;:hTsi^— ^ 

.Uted  their  depredations  eciualV^lrnlif^d  L^r.  Tn" 

.ic'ofharJnT.h?ea'^,:;';^L:Tr:e:"f„dt7''^''r^- 
into  New  York  •  fl.«  qi  •  °  warmers,  and  bringing  them 

-'-4S.hervier„n,s;:trh:d^^^ 

■"^  -cares,  an^^ ^f.^ro'-';  ^  Ihif  "''-  " 


cnnrap 


as 


d08 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


Mr.  Sparks  says,  they  had  no  more  hesitation  in  visiting 
a  wealthy  whig  than  a  tory ;  and  so  great  was  the  appetite 
for  villany,  that  no  orders,  nor  even  the  presence  of  a  com- 
missioned officer  could  restrain  them.     If  an  American  for- 
aging party  went  out  from  the  lines,  as  many  volunteers  from 
the  country  side  as  could  join  themselves  to  it  attended  and 
disgraced  its  progress:   and  they  would  return  rich  with 
horses,  cattle,  bed-stuffs,    clothing,   and   whatever   portable 
effects   they  could  bear  away   to   divide  at  their  leisure. 
"The   militia   volunteers   excelled   in   this   business,"   said 
Aaron    Burr.     A  crowd  of  the   best   whigs   in   the   land 
would  follow  at  their  heels,  hoping,  and  sometimes  obtain- 
ing the  restoration  of  their  property,  but  not  oflen  the  pun- 
ishment of  their  robbers.     When  the  protection  of  a  regular 
party  was  wanting  to   these  skulking  thieves,  they  would 
maraud   by  night  through  the  country  round,  and  concert 
with  their  kindred  the  Cow-boys  to  take  off  their  hands  the 
plunder  they  could  neither  keep  themselves  nor  sell  within 
American  jurisdiction.     Then  a  meeting  would  occur,  and 
the  cows  and  sheep  of  the  whig  farmer  be  bartered  for  dry 
goods  and  gold  brought  by  the  Cow-boys  from  New  York. 
A  mock  skirmish  closed  the  scene  of  iniquity,  and  with  pock- 
ets well  lined  and  tongues  loud  in  lying  praise  of  their  own 
bravery,  the  Skinners  would  return  laden  with  booty  which 
they  pretended  they  had  captured  from  a  smuggling  party  of 
the  enemy.     Well  might  this  state  of  affairs  be  styled  a  most 
"  formidable  conspiracy  against  the  rights  and  claims  of  hu- 
manity ! "  * 

To  the  armies  on  either  side,  rather  than  to  any  exertion 
of  the  civil  authorities,  is  due  the, praise  for  any  attempt  to 
suppress  these  banditti.     The  continental  officers  on  the  lines 

*  "The  Militia  and  Cow-boj's  are  very  busy  in  driving,  and  it  is  out  of 
iny  power  to  prevent  them.  If  I  send  the  troops  down  below  to  prevent 
the  Cow-boys  the  Militia  are  driving  off  in  the  rear,  and  if  I  have  the  troops 
above,  the  lower  party  are  driving  downwards,  and  the  inhabitants  are  left 
destitute  without  any  prospect  of  redress."  —  MS.  Jameson  to  IleatLOd. 
mh,  1780.  ' 


rs  on  the  lines 


THE  SKINNERS  AND  COW-BOYS.  309 

down  an  inauisiiiw  „ffi„        ■  f '      °  "'  '""*"  """■'<'  bear 

a..va,s  save  i"^;lt  rend  "^  ^  1'^"™  ."^  ""■«"  -" 

caotured    Hp  ,-=  •  ^o  ^*  "'^  country.     If 

to-day  peacefully  working  in  th^ir  floU     *      .  ,  '^  resist,— 
a  picket-euard       To  ,     .      ^^'^''  ^°"°'g^'  assaulting 

ial«;:t™4^alli::  at\ri:  rer^ 

«o„  o.  .he  passive  ohedience  of  tj  i:;;i:u':r„E 
e"  h,d  fled   !nV      .""^  '"  ™'"'-    ^°''  °f  "«=  fi"™-hoId^ 

;je  u„„ed  haU^hs  s^  dt^;e7:„:rd": 

h  ground,  and  in  the  neglected  orchard  the  f^itHed  in 
great  heaps  benea.h  the  trees.  The  sturdy  Ame  icTwl  ^ 
tecnbes  the  secne  attributes  all  the  devastaUon  to    he  en^ 

me  'r^,rf  "^'  ^"•""^^  »"  Skinners  as  renegades" 
.like,  and  ail  vUlanous  tories.    He  recites  the  tortures"  h^ 


310 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRt. 


employed  to  extort  from  the  inhabitants  the  revelation  of 
hoards  which  perhaps  did  not  exist.  The  wretch  would  be 
hanged  till  he  became  insensible ;  then  cut  down  and  revived, 
and  again  hanged.  The  case  of  an  aged  Quaker  makes  it 
probable  these  ruffians  were  nominally  whigs ;  for  the  Quak- 
ers were  generally  loyal.  This  poor  old  man  had  given  up 
all  his  money,  but  more  Avas  required.  To  be  sure  that  he 
was  secreting  nothing  from  them,  his  captors  first  inflicted 
the  torment  o{ scorching:  they  stripped  him  naked,  immersed 
him  in  hot  ashes,  and  roasted  him  as  one  would  a  potato,  till 
the  blistered  skin  rose  from  his  flesh.  Then  he  was  thrice 
hung  and  cut  down ;  nor  did  his  oppressors  leave  him  while 
life  appeared  to  remain.  When  Burr  commanded  the  ad- 
vanced lines  in  this  county,  his  indignation  at  all  he  wit- 
nessed first  inspired  him,  he  says,  with  a  wish  for  arbitrary 
power.  "  I  could  gibbet  half-a-dozen  good  whigs,  with  all 
the  venom  of  an  inveterate  tory." 

Through  such  a  region,  where  none  were  safe  with  aught 
to  lose  and  not  force  to  defend  it,  Andrd  was  now  to  go.    Af- 
ter leaving  Pine's  Bridge,  he  was  not  long  in  resolving  to 
abandon  the  route  he  was  on  and,  striking  to  the  right,  to  take 
the  Tarrytown  Road.     It  was  shorter ;  and  if,  as  Boyd  had 
warned  him,  he  might  find  the  Cow-boys  upon  it,  he  probably 
esteemed  them  less  perilous  opponents  than  the  Skinners.    It 
was  a  bright  pleasant  morning  on  Saturday,  the  23rd  of  Sep- 
tember ;  and  he  looked  forward  to  being  ere  sunset  once  more 
with  his  friends.     Few  incidents  for  a  while  interrupted  his 
solitude.     At  the  house  of  Mr.  Staats  Hammond  he  paused 
to  ask  for  water,  and  the  little  children  who  brought  it  him 
from  the  well  bore  in  mind  their  vision  of  a  mounted  man 
closely  wrapt  in  his  light-blue  swan-skin  cloak,  with  high  mil- 
itary boots  and  round  brimmed  hat,  who  leisurely  walked  his 
bay  horse  to  their  door.     The  incongruous  appearance  of 
such  a  good-looking  steed,  with  its  handsome  double  snaffle 
bridle  and  its  tail  and  mane  filled  with  burrs,  was  not  lost 
on  them.     The  lad  held  the  rein  while  the  stranger  drank. 


ANDR£  on  the  TARRYTOWN  road.  311 

"  How  far  is  it  to  Tarrvfnwn  ?»!,«•       •     , 
replied  ,1,0  boy.     '' iZZtLu,      '^'''^^'     ^°""»"''»' 
and  resumed  his  way     At  Ch»  """  '"  *"''"  "'"''  ^"'^"5. 

bC    .,.  h   ,"  "PP""^''"=<»  »"««  "  now  called  tl,e  Indrl 
Brod.  „e  had  gone  over  nearly  eleven  ™i,es  of  „ttl 

an  ae,„am,aneo  of  Us.    He  sTd  h!  c!^      1 1^^  T^ 

ordered  him  to  stand  "  "''"'  ^"''^J'town,  who 

the%tb:::h  Hn,:  i:i::r ''-  r-^  ^"  ^^^  -^  -- 

vale  of  Sleenv  Hn  1'         ?       '''™  ^''^  '''"  world-renowned 

ra::t:r:orr;her-'  -  --"•- --^ 

DoLancys  and  "hoseTf  the  W  r""  •  """^  ''™"^^  "'» 
J"=or  RoLsonwasto  ,a  gSin'      C  "b:^"'',."'^  '="'"^- 

*it:dr;ia^r7'"^^^^^^^^^^ 

^^aae,  then  W "r^.^fs— ^'--^  ^*  ^ 
rou.h  logs,    says  the  venerable  Knickerbocker,  "laid 


imi 


312 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


side  by  side,  served  for  a  bridge  over  this  stream.  On  that 
side  of  the  road  where  the  brook  entei-ed  the  wood,  a  group 
of  oaks  and  chestnuts,  matted  thick  with  wild  grape-vines, 
threw  a  cavernous  gloom  over  it."  Here,  on  the  south  or 
lower  side  of  the  bridge  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  path, 
were  secreted  among  the  bushes  John  Paulding,  Isaac  Van 
"Wart,  and  David  Williams,  whose  presence  on  this  occasion 
saved  America  from  a  mortal  blow.* 

On  the  preceding  day  seven  young  men,  mostly  natives  of 
or  well  acquainted  with  the  neighborhood,  had  agreed  to  way- 
lay the  road  in  quest  of  spoil.     The  ravages  of  war  had  de- 
prived them  of  all  profitable  and  peaceful  employment,  and 
by  their  own  account  they  were  in  hopes  of  wresting  from 
some  of  the  returning  confederates  of  the  Cow-boys,  who  had 
just  forayed  the  country,  a  part  of  their  ill-gotten  gains. 
That  they  should  have  cared  to  encounter  an  armed  force  of 
any  size  is  contradicted  by  the  smallness  and  disposition  of 
their  own  band ;  three  of  whom  kept  the  ambush,  while  four 
watched  from  a  hill-top  lest  the  Light-horse  should  come  on 
them  unawares.    For  as  they  acted  under  no  commission  nor 
were  detached  from  either  the  continental  or  militia  organi- 
zations, it  might  have  fared  badly  with  them  to  have  been 
inten-upted  by  the  American  or  the  English  authorities.     It 
has  been  indeed  said  that  the  enterprise  was  permitted  by  the 
commanding  officer  at  Salem  ;  yet  Tallmadge,  the  second  offi- 
cer and  the  efficient  spirit  of  the  dragoons,  declared  its  char- 
acter was  such  that  had  he  fallen  upon  it  he  would  have 
arrested  its  members  as  readily  as  Andre  himself.     It  is  for- 
tunate therefore  that  they  escaped  the  notice  of  this  active 
and  well-informed  soldier. 

Through  all  this  part  of  our  narrative,  a  fatal  combination 
of  circumstances  was  working  against  Andre.  Had  he  pur- 
sued any  other  road,  or  had  he  arrived  here  two  hours  earlier, 
he  would  have  escaped  scot-free.  The  party  had  been  but 
little  more  than  an  hour  on  the  ground  when,  between  eight 

*  See  Appendix,  No.  II.. 


Ill  !! 


ANDRES  CAPTURE.  0,0 

His  boots,  a  valuX  ieT^^^^^^^^  ^"^  approach, 

once  attracted  the  eyTZ  Till  I  tT  '''"  '^  '^^'^  ^' 
going  to  New  York,"  said  one  « Th  ""  "''"''  ^  ^'""^^^ 
nian-h'ke  looking  man  »  sairl  0.1,  *''""^'  a  gentle- 

pears  to  be  well  d^C;d   '  d  H      k'  ""  ^'"^^•"°'  "  ^^«  «P- 
better  step  out  and  Ip  '"dor^"'  T'^"  '^"  '  ^^ 

J'orse's  tramp  clattered  over  ^h    k^  '  know  him."    As  his 
feet,  and  Paulding,  the  ma  e  '      '^'l  '^^  ^P^^"»  ^°  ^'-'r 
with  presented  mtket  Id  hTT-  '^  ^'^^  P'*''^^'  a^-«"«ed 
his  destination,   "j^  ads"h.       r".  ^^^"'' ^"^  --""«« 
;o  our  part,."    The/i  w  icT  I  [J'L'^^^  ^^  ^^'^^^ 
lower  party,"  he  answered  •  and  7  .k     ^        "^^"^-     "  '-^he 
l.e  seems  to  have  be  rayed  an  .    V    "'  '"^^'"^  ^'''-^^  '^^'y  ^'^^^ 
able.     "Thank  God  I  '^oJ        ""  '''''  ""^  ""^^^^-k- 
^od,  1  am  once  more  among  friends!"  he 

^nerican  trooper  has  been  se  ^  t  ';erirhif  £7'^ ."'  ^"^'^^  --'^/"n 
drd  wore:  leaping  from  his  horse  to  s   in  a  w   1''  ''"f  '"'^'^  ''^^^^  ^«  An- 
officer  and  escaping  almost  under  the  ll     T'    *""  '^'  ^"''P^^  «f  «  royal 
may  all  remember  the  ludicrous  eee„eTn  ah  T? '' *^«  ^"^•"^-    ^e 
hood-Schinderhannes,  the  Robber  of  the  Rh' "''  *«"■««•  «f  our  child- 
Jews,  amid  protestations  of  entire  novPrV      ^'""^-where  forty  or  fitly 
«hoes,  and  stockings,  and  di  p"  ay  theC' ^.^  ^f  ^^  ''  ">"«-  «--  ^oot, 
and  how,  each  being  told  to  resume  his  own?.   1'^  ^''^  '^'''  ^^"'^•'^Jed 
once  waged -first  for  the  boots   next  frth      f''  "  '""°"^  ^^"^^  ^««  « 
scene  ,s  ,n  the  close  of  the  eighteenth        !      ''*'"'•     ^^'«  ^ate  of  this 
boots  which  Andrd  wore  we^  ve^  d^enTarr'"';-    J'^  ""'''  ^--™«n's 
mon  acceptation  has  received.    I^have  seen  f      '  ^™  *^°^^  ''^^'^  '^m- 
the  cap  ure,  that  stood  for  many  .^ars    n  Ph  ."fl'u'?"'''^'  ^^•"'"emorating 
ously  displayed  a  pair  of  genuin^  comedy  to^h.'^'^f-'  '"'  ^'^''^'^  «"0"e^ 
Three  months  previous  to  Andrd's  d^fptr  ^    ?*'  '"  ^'""  ''^  ^^e  originals, 
purported  to  have  been  written  bj  tr  Gen"'  M^""..""  P^^'^^ed  which 
wh.ch  the  wrfter  explicitly  states  that  t^M  "^^  *"  *''"•  C'^'^^^". '" 

cannot  appear  in  public  The  event  of  tL  ?'"''''  "  ^"'^  "^  ^«ot«  he 
«cnbed  m  three  forms,  according  to  he  ver. •''"''  ''  ^'^^"  «'^«^<'  «••«  de- 
ceives; byAndrd;  and  by  tradftion  It  ? '"  ^'T^"  ^-^  ^''«  ^«Ptors  them- 
«1  of  them;  so  the  reade"^  sh.^  ha've  an  rnT''*'  ''  «"^-«'y  reconcile 
together,  and  with  Appendix,  No U  "■hJ^^T''''^  "^  '^'"P^""^'  ^he-" 
nore  particularly  noticed.  '     ''"*^  ^'^^  ^«Ptors  themselves  are 


314 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


"•^l 


cried,  as  he  recognized  a  royal  uniform  on  Paulding's  back. 
"  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  I  am  a  British  officer  out  of  the 
country,  on  particular  business,  and  I  hope  you  won't  detain 
me  a  minute ;"  and  in  proof  of  his  assertion  he  exhibited  the 
gold  watch,  which  was  an  article  then  seldom  possessed  by 
the  gentlemen  of  our  service.  On  this  they  told  him  he  was 
their  prisoner ;  that  they  were  Americans,  and  he  must  dis- 
mount. He  laughed,  unconcernedly  producing  Arnold's  pass 
and  remarking,  "My  God,  I  must  do  anything  to  get  along!" 
None  but  Paulding  were  able  to  read  or  write;  and  he 
treated  the  safe-conduct  with  little  respect,  after  the  pre- 
vious avowal.  «  Had  he  pulled  out  General  Arnold's  pass 
first,  I  should  have  let  him  go." 

They  now  led  him  aside  to  a  gigantic  whitewood  or  tulip- 
tree,  twenty-six  feet  in  girth,  that  stood  like  a  landmark  a 
little  southward  of  the  stream. 

"Its  limbs  were  gnarled  and  fantastic,  large  enough  to 
form  trunks  for  ordinary  trees,  twisting  down  almost  to  the 
earth,  and  rising  again  into  the  air.  It  was  connected  with 
the  tragical  story  of  the  unfortunate  Andre,  who  had  been 
taken  prisoner  hard  by  ;  and  was  universally  known  by  the 
name  of  Major  Andre's  Tree.  The  common  people  regarded 
it  with  a  mixture  of  respect  and  superstition,  partly  out  of 
sympathy  for  the  fate  of  its  illstarred  namesake,  and  partly 
from  the  tale  of  strange  sights  and  doleful  lamentations  told 
concerning  it." 

Under  this  tree,  which  by  a  strange  chance  was  scathed 
with  lightning  on  the  very  day  that  the  news  of  his  execution 
came  to  Tarrytown,  Andre  was  searched.  He  warned  his 
captors  of  Arnold's  displeasure  at  this  proceeding,  and  pro- 
tested he  had  no  letters  ;  but  nothing  would  satisfy  them  but 
an  examination  of  his  person.  "  My  lads,"  said  he,  "  you 
will  bring  yourselves  into  trouble  ":  — but  they  vowed  they 
did  not  fear  it,  and  while  by  their  compulsion  he  threw  off 
his  clothing,  piece  by  piece,  "Williams  was  deputed  to  the 
examination.     Nothing  appeared,  however,  till  one  boot  was 


1  one  boot  was 


ANDRE'S  CAPTURE. 

'~4't.  "  r  :i'?:  J^r .;°-""»S  -  e„„ee,,e<, 
-and  se,zi„;,h„  Jt  .^^1^1"^-"'"'"  "  "'" 
three  folded  half-sheels  of  1!  ,    "'"'<''■«»'  »he  stocking, 

West  Point  werV  „r'T;"t'''';"  "  «>""■  '"""--S 
lariy  furnished.    «  Z  »         °"""'  '^°'  "«'  ''°™<>  '™i- 

spy!"  ■'^         '    '■'P^ted  Paulding,  "he  is  a 

They  questioned  him  i»  in  ,„i        ■ 
Pe"i  but  of  course  Ws  rLr         ■■'  '"  ""'""■™''  "'«'«  Pa- 
him  whether  he  wouJd  e^T""  '''^"'-    They  asked 
ihey  would  reIeaseTn,„"f°'  '"  ^'^  "•'"•  handsomely  if 
surrender  all  he  ha^  ^i^  .  '  "'"f^  '''^'''^-    ««  would 
hundred  gui„e„:  or  m!  *  .''nT;::'' "°f  "'"^^  ''  W« 
he  «ere  permitted  to  commu„l.  f  ^"'•"I'"^  "^  "^"^  S'""^''  » 
goods,  it  will  bo  remLbered    r  °  "'■"'  """'  ^°*-    ^^ 
tides  peculiarly  precious  tou.  pip,:  'Tl'"""  '"'  "'• 
tonly  stopped  this  convpr.of  ^         Paulding  peremp- 

not  ten  l„sand  g"      rTo^ld'T'""" 'f  ™'""'''^ '•■«' 
again  asked  him  if  he  Zld  „ ',  '^''  ^'"'^     ^'"'^'"^ 

offered.    ..Yes,  I  w„:id,™:ai;:nd:r"'. ?"  ""^"'"""^ 
that  you  shall,"  was  the  r.:.;   ,  .         ^  '^''  "<"  ""'end 

all  further  inerrZl,"  Lt"; '  .'''■"""  ""=  P"»"er  to 
American  post,  aid  riu ItS  """"  '"  '''^  ''™  •»  «" 
forth  towards    heir  eom™^  V°  """•'•     ^hey  now  set 

the  ho..e  on  wlt^the  c'n t'  ""     '"  '""'  ^""'■^'"3  '^-'''"S 
ties  drew  to.,c(her  ,1  e    ""f      J™  '"™""=''-     ^^  'ho  par- 
«f  the  remaW  ; fouro?  ;;  ""'?™'"'  '''''''^'  ""=  "^h-f  Ln 
ttoe  descend  and  pr^uce  t  l^rr'-  """"""  '■™  «'  ""^  ^-« 
%■    "  Ho  then  asL^h  :  t  h  taTci™?^^^^  f  "is  ,ua|. 
same  time  warninfr  him  „n, ,        ,       '   ^^*  ^'"*''' "  at  the 
for  if  he  did  he  ;:^":  ^  "it"  "r"^?'  f'  -«'P«' 
"■as  resumed  across  .h„  !!    ?         }  '"'"""y  "'e  eourae 
Ing  roads  andC  .  taL'.h  ^"'  ''''"''  ^"'"'^ '   -"M- 
■narehingon  either  1^^/        •■■   "'■"'  "'  ""=  ^"<"'''  »nio 
Andr^wL  J:;t„V'^^;-™-"er  bringing  up  the  rea. 

Iken  but  shortly      L  „L,  ?       ""''''"'  l^es'lons,  and 

o.tiy.    As  they  p.iuse,n,t  the  house  of  one  of  the 


i  J. 


316 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


X 

party,  Paulding  went  in  advance  to  its  proprietor  (perhaps 
his  comrade's  father)  and  said  :  —  "Be  careful  how  you 
talk ;  I  believe  we  have  got  a  British  officer."  Here  they 
tarried  a  little,  and  one  of  the  women  of  the  family  pressed 
Andre  to  eat.  "  No,  I  thank  you,"  he  answered  in  sadness, 
"  I  have  no  appetite  to  take  anything."  Soon  resuming  the 
march  in  such  wise  as  before,  they  at  length  accomplished 
the  twelve  miles  that  brought  them  to  Jameson's  quarters, 
and  delivered  their  prisoner  into  his  hands. 

We  must  now  hear  another  and  less  pleasing  narration  of 
some  of  these  transactions ;  and  particularly,  so  far  as  may 
be,  obtain  Andre's  own  account  of  the  affair.  The  late  Gen- 
eral King,  of  Ridgefield,  Connecticut,  then  a  lieutenant  in 
Sheldon's  dragoons,  who  had  custody  of  him  within  a  few 
hours  of  his  arrival,  relates  the  story  Andre  told,  and  which 
he  himself  implicitly  received  and  always  upheld  as  nothing 
but  the  truth.  It  must  be  premised  that  it  was  not  altogether 
unusual  for  persons  near  the  British  lines  to  kidnap  an  officer 
riding  out  when  none  of  our  troops  were  near  the  city,  and 
detain  him  till  he  promised  to  pay  a  ransom.  This  practice 
was  at  length  in  a  measure  checked  by  the  officers  them- 
selves, who  not  only  paid  the  extorted  gold,  but  caused  the 
recipient  to  be  imprisoned  or  flogged.  King  says,  then,  that 
Andre  in  the  course  of  his  revelations  (which  are  other- 
wise partly  sustained  by  what  we  now  know)  told  how  he 
was  challenged  near  Tarrytown  by  three  bushmen. 

"  He  says  to  them,  I  hope,  gentlemen,  you  belong  to  the 
lower  party.  We  do,  says  one.  So  do  I,  says  he,  and  by 
the  token  of  this  ring  and  key  you  will  let  me  pass.*  I  am 
a  British  officer  on  business  of  importance,  and  must  not  be 
detained.  One  of  them  took  his  watch  from  him,  and 
ordered  him  to  dismount.  The  moment  this  was  done,  he 
said  he  found  he  was  mistaken,  and  he  must  shift  his  tone. 
He  says,  I  am  happy,  gentlemen,  to  find  I  am  mistaken. 

*  This  is  probably  another  version  of  the  production  of  the  prisoner's 
watch. 


of  the  prisoner's 


andk£s  capture.  317 

you  wa/rBrUish  offll   '"   !^     ''•'"''  '"^'  "'<'^-     ">'<"'  "^'^ 

X^irrj- '{"-'' ----"^^^^^^ 

liim      w«      1    r  ,        ^       '  "  *"^y  wo"'^  be  directed  bv 
Tfwp^ni-  ^       ^^'^^  answered  him  in  this  wav 

a  considerable  ti™e,  an"  flnairw?„S'w'„^^if  7"'""'°" 
«.n  ;o  .e  LZl,^-^-::  ;Set"""  '"  "^ 
are  .oM  wbo  W  kJ;  X''  'elX:  ^^ettC 

the  twenty  wtr  *."' "f  his  sons)  records  that  for 

.™  I  o„    hf  teSr^'f  T     "'  T'"  '"^  "°»^"-'- 
Sivon  here  as  he  "Id  it  """"""="'•     «"  """-^  " 

"To  this  gentleman  Andr^  himself  related   (hn.  l,. 
P-ngdo,vn  a  hi,,,  at  ,„e  foot  of  whieh/uttr 'a  fr"  ^^^^ 


I 


318 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


cards,  were  the  three  men  who  took  him.  They  were  close 
by  tlie  road  side,  and  he  liad  approached  very  near  them  be- 
fore either  party  discovered  the  other :  upon  seeing  him,  they 
histantly  rose  and  seized  their  rifles.  They  approached  him, 
and  demanded  who  he  was  ?  He  immediately  answered  that 
he  was  a  British  officer  ;  supposing,  from  their  being  so  near 
the  British  lines,  that  they  belonged  to  that  party.  They 
then  seized  him,  robbed  him  of  the  few  guineas  which  he  had 
with  him,  and  the  two  watches  which  he  then  wore,  one  of 
gold  and  the  other  of  silver.  He  offered  to  reward  them  if 
they  would  take  him  to  New  York ;  they  hesitated ;  and  in 
his  (Andre's)  opinion,  the  reason  why  they  did  not  do  so 
was  the  impossibility  on  his  part  to  secure  to  them  the  per- 
formance of  the  promise." 

To  all  this  must  be  superadded  the  conviction  of  Tallmadge, 
to  whom  the  character  of  both  captive  and  captors  was  more 
or  less  known,  that  the  same  story,  which  he  also  heard  from 
his  prisoner,  was  true.     He  most  publicly  avowed  his  belief 
that  Andre's  boots  were  taken  off  in  pursuit  of  plunder,  not 
of  the  proofs  of  treason ;  and  that  had  he  been  in  condition 
to  hand  over  the  price  demanded,  he  would  not  have  been 
detained  or  discovered.     The  sagacity  and  the  probity  of  a 
very  distinguished  soldier  cannot  be  too  highly  estimated  in 
considering  the  authority  this  declaration  of  his  bears  with  it. 
Thus  we  have  before  us  the  story  as  told  respectively  by 
Andre  and  by  the  captors  themselves.     What  tradition  re- 
lates may  be  distrusted  but  not  suppressed.     It  says  that  the 
captors  were  in  wait  for  men  of  their  acquaintance  who  had 
gone  into  New  York  with  cattle  to  sell  to  the  British,  a  share 
of  whose  money  they  hoped  to  win  or  otherwise  get  from  them 
as  they  returned.     They  were  stretched  on  the  ground  play- 
ing cards  when  Andre  was  discovered  advancing  slowly,  and 
studying  his  route  on  a  paper  in  his  hand.    As  he  drew  near, 
apparently  suspecting  the  danger  that  might  lurk  in  such  a 
covert,  he  quickened  his  pace,  thrusting  the  paper  into  the 
boot  of  his  off  leg  —  a  very  convenient  receptacle  for  any 


ANDR£'S  CArXURE.  ^ly 

10  "Inch  both  parues  were  equally  well  inclT,,]. 
TradU,on  ,„  ,|,is  case  has  Jittle  value  save  aa  a  matter  „f 

ll.e  strong  ener-ctie  Id  rit  of  P    >  ,    """^  '•'""  I*"'  f"'' 

that  Ani^  wouU  havHo.  o7  1 17'  "•""  ?  "  P''"""''''^'^ 

practices  of  the  American  armv  Tl.nt  n„  .  1  .  *"'' 
prisoner  is  also  established  aid  bu  f  7  ""'""'  "'°''' 
P-onthe  matter  n,igh     Le  ltd  ttre  "  1^ "  T  ."'' 

r:4rrm^ot!rr:ir:£^^^^^^ 

.a^^a^^ed  With  either  Side  that  prtvirdtr^ltj 

"  Commutare  viam,  retroque  repulsa  reverti 
.  Nunc  hue,  nunc  illuc,  in  cunctas  denique  partes." 


■ 


820 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDUfi. 


and  presence  of  mind.  Has  it  ever  been  considered  possible 
that  mutters  might  have  been  so  ordered  that  nothing  but 
force  could  have  got  him  through?  He  avowed  himself 
British  :  so  did  his  captors,  and  seized  him.  There  was 
more  probability  to  a  stranger  of  their  being  British,  than 
himself.  They  were  near  the  royal  lines,  and  one  of  them 
in  a  royal  jacket.  He  next  produced  Arnold's  pass.  This 
was  thrown  aside ;  though  there  was  nothing  but  his  previous 
assertion,  which  was  founded  on  their  own  stratagem,  to  war- 
rant the  suspicion  that  it  was  not  valid.  That  they  thought 
him  a  spy  when  they  searched  him  is  more  than  I  believe. 
General  Heath  says  they  knew  not  what  he  was ;  nor  he, 
whether  his  captors  were  Americans,  British,  or  refugees. 
It  is,  however,  proper  to  say  that  on  every  subsequent  occa- 
sion they  solemnly  and  steadily  professed  the  entire  purity 
of  their  conduct  and  motives  in  all  this  transaction. 


sidered  possible 
lat  nothing  but 
vowed  himself 
Q.  There  was 
g  British,  than 
nd  one  of  them 
i's  pass.  Tiiis 
mt  his  previous 
atagera,  to  war- 
it  they  thought 
than  I  believe. 
B  was  ;  nor  he, 
h,  or  refugees, 
bsequent  occa- 
3  entire  purity 
isaction. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

AnJn5  a  Prisoner  in  our  Lines       r„f 

Retaining  Andre'-s  !.«,.=«       .  , 
f"'  prize  ,„  be  »o"    ^^ ' Z^C  'orM  "'""  "'^^'"'^  ^  '- 
handed  him  over  ,o  Lieu  -Col   t'it"  '""'"'  "'"  <^"P"'" 
raand  of  Sheldon's  Dra!l„,       ,         """'■'"'"  "•'">' '"  '=<>"'- 

«PP«.ved  -Idler,  of  g::tn,arr"  T"'  "  ^'•'''""'"■'  "" 

His  manly  perso'n,  JZfyCrZZ'rT:'  '"'»S"'^ 

i'o  bearing  arc  corarooJrZiyt  Sh  "';'  """  """ 

lie  was  wounded  in  a  servie»  „t  v  ,i    '™"='°f  his  timcj  nnd 

John  Ande^onf  and  a  rartfuUerZv  of'T""  ""  '"'" 
papers  threw  no  llc^ht  on  the  w-  \,      ^°  mysterious 

pected  leas,  of  all  things  he  'i"?!'-  "''''  "r^'"""  »- 
llie  pass  was  a  nuzzle  .„  v  ^^  °  "  ^""^'^^^  ■""»  «l'»"gh 
a  Oeviee  of  the  en  ^  to  il're  V  "^f "'  '"^  ^"^'^  »«"-  "as 
dissension  in  our  Tl  I  w  ?  """■  P'""'  ^■^"■°^'  ••'"■' 
conduct,  when  ealm  "efleeUouT^l'H^"'",?  r™""""^"  "^  '- 

angry  diswointment  1 1  •  h  ,,  'rf  1  ""'  ^*='  "^  "■« 
"lalized  it  with  bewihwrr  f     ,       '"'*'"'  """'^  "'««  stig. 

«elnsions  tht 'C  HlraL^'II;"".^  T''  ''"  "^ 
laps  aided;  for  well  he  kZTat'ttl?"  ='"''''  ?■='- 
army  eould  he  look  for  relief  If  h  u  """  """"  '"  <""• 
'lie  affair  leaked  out  ChZ   , !   '"  ""S""  '^""^  Arnold  ere 

fore  uttered  not  a  "vlS  ttf  ''??.'  '"='="""••  ^e  there- 
"iA  intense  satLuefon  Vea.7r ^  '''^^  ""^  ^^"^'  ^  ""d 
Poine.    He  alread/rd  /''''' i'\""«  '»  I'"  ^-^nt  to  West 

-cdthatJohrirrsotr  a'rttf;^:'''"'"  ^  ^^ 


u 


a  pass  signed 


322 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


by  the  general ;  and  Jameson  thought  the  simplest  plan  would 
be  to  send  the  prisoner  himself  to  head-quarters.  It  was  his 
duty  under  ordinary  circumstances  tq,  report  the  transaction 
to  Arnold ;  and  accordingly  in  a  brief  note  he  related  what 
was  done,  and  dispatched  Lieutenant  Allen  and  four  of  the 
Connecticut  militia  with  the  letter  and  captive  to  West  Point. 
The  papers  he  transmitted  by  express  to  Washington.  By 
these  means  he  had  discharged  his  duty,  and  at  the  same 
time  given  such  warning  of  the  business  that  but  for  the 
Vulture,  of  whose  position  he  was  not  aware,  and  for  the  un- 
expected delay  in  his  enclosures  reaching  the  chief,  Arnold 
really  could  not  have  escaped.  When  Jameson  therefore  is 
accused  of  imbecility  on  this  occasion,  it  is  well  to  recall  his 
actual  conduct,  and  to  reflect  on  the  insubordination  he  would 
have  been  charged  with,  had  Arnold  been  innocent,  in  daring 
to  report  directly  to  the  commander-in-chief,  without  regard 
to  his  lawful  superior,  to  whom  all  details  of  duty  should 
ordinarily  be  submitted. 

Andre  was  already  advanced  some  distance  towards  West 
Point  when,  late  in  the  day.  Major  Tallmadge  returned  to 
North  Castle  from  a  temporary  service  on  which  he  had  been 
detached.  Tallmadge  was  no  ordinary  man ;  and  though  now 
but  twenty-six  years  of  age  he  possessed  a  remarkably  ma- 
tured judgment.  His  education  was  liberal,  and  ere  entering 
the  army  he  had  taught  a  public  school  in  Coimecticut.  To 
the  knowledge  of  mankind,  and  particularly  of  that  portion 
of  it  who  inhabited  this  part  of  the  country,  was  added  the 
especial  acquirements  his  peculiar  service  involved :  for  from 
early  in  1778  to  the  end  of  the  war  he  was  employed  by 
Washington  to  carry  on  the  secret  correspondence  with  our 
spies  in  New  York,  and  in  guarding  Westchester  county 
from  the  depredations  of  Cow-boys,  Skinners,  and  De  Lan- 
cy's  Refugee  corps.  The  general  character  of  every  inhab- 
itant was  a  necessary  part  of  such  an  officer's  knowledge, 
and  to  deal  with  a  spy  a  duty  of  his  every-day  life.  He 
had  moreover  a  laudable  pride  in  his  profession  ;  and  now 


plest  plan  would 
ers.     It  was  his 

the  transaction 
he  related  what 
and  four  of  the 
s  to  West  Point, 
ashington.  By 
nd  at  the  same 
hat  but  for  the 

and  for  the  un- 
le  chief,  Arnold 
json  therefore  is 
rell  to  recall  his 
nation  he  would 
locent,  in  daring 

without  regard 

of  duty  should 

e  towards  West 
ige  returned  to 
ich  he  had  been 
and  though  now 
remarkably  ma- 
ind  ere  entering 
onnecticut.  To 
of  that  portion 
was  added  the 
olved :  for  from 
IS  employed  by 
idence  with  our 
tchester  county 
s,  and  De  Lan- 
of  every  inhab- 
:er's  knowledge, 
^••day  life.  He 
ssion  ;  and  now 


ANDRfi  A  PRISONEK.  ggS 

that  accoutrements  came  in  from  France,  his  troop  in  Sh.l 
don  s  dragoons,  mounted  all  on  dapple-gra;  hor  erwifh  thl 

nofwte?nt:r r  tP"'  "  "^^  "  ^"'  ^"^^  -"^<^ 

been  seized  o„;n'\heo  her T.r"' "^7°^' "^"'^  '^-« 

together.     For  ^o  sooner  t.    ^  ^"'^  ^'^  "^^^^ 

transpired,  than  coup  n7thelttT^r^^^^^^  "'^^  '''' 

^P^th^thisve^A^rt^^^ 

ments  and  pass,  he  was  convinced  of  hic  r«„^    i.   . 

capture.      Convi^cld  of  ArnoM     ^^"""^  *°  ^""'^'^  "^  ""^ 
„„..!,    1       ,."'""<'<'  "'  Arnolds  innocence,  Jameson  n-i<. 

Me      nZ'':r!'f  ''  "'^  Major.,  snggestLsranTnnd: 
ried  off  with  fl,.c.  •   7     ?  ^"  ^^P^^ss  was  hur- 

Wo^n  .nd  TaUn.!d:^r  fd:  ir^reATS 
ZT  .^^'P""  ■"'  ™y'"'™  «ir  and  r„s.~el  the;; 
MS  a  gentleness  and  refinement  in  all  he  did  .K„,^       , 

over  to  South  or  Lower  Salpm  fn  f»,«  r.    j 

don's  regiment.  '         '  ^^^^-quarters  of  Shel- 

brottLlSGlibr;f""'r  '^^^^^"'^^  2^^^'^"^^^  -- 
Jv   f  T      ;  S  ^^™-house,  and  committed  to  the  cus- 

tody of  Lieut.  King  of  the  Dragoons,  who  has  left  „!  T' 
account  of  what  ensued.  ""^  "'  *'"' 

^mllfcllw'^  ''"'"'"'  ^'^^  ""  '"'^''^  g-tleman.     His     * 
^mall-clothes  were  nankeen,  with  handsome  white-top  boots 


I 


324 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


—  in  fact,  his  undress  military  clothes.  His  coat  purple,  with 
gold-lace,  worn  somewhat  threadbare,  with  a  small-brimmed 
tarnished  beaver  on  his  head.  He  wore  his  hair  in  a  queue, 
with  long  black  beard,  and  his  clothes  somewhat  dirty.  In 
this  gai'b  I  took  charge  of  him.  After  breakfast  my  barber 
came  in  to  dress  me,  after  which  I  requested  him  to  go 
through  the  same  operation,  which  he  did.  When  the  rib- 
bon was  taken  from  his  hair  I  observed  it  full  of  powder ; 
this  circumstance,  with  others  that  occurred,  induced  rae  to 
believe  I  had  no  ordinary  person  in  charge.  He  requested 
permission  to  take  the  bed  whilst  his  shirt  and  small-clothes 
could  be  washed.  I  told  him  that  was  needless,  for  a  shirt 
was  at  his  service,  which  he  accepted.  We  were  close  pent 
up  in  a  bedroom,  with  a  vidette  at  the  door  and  window. 
There  was  a  spacious  yard  before  the  door,  which  he  desired 
he  might  be  permitted  to  walk  in  with  me.  I  accordingly 
disposed  of  my  guard  in  such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  an  es- 
cape. While  walking  together  he  observed  he  must  make  a 
confidant  of  somebody,  and  he  knew  not  a  more  proper  per- 
son than  myself,  as  I  had  appeared  to  befriend  a  stranger  in 
distress.  After  settling  the  point  between  ourselves,  he  told 
me  who  he  was,  and  gave  me  a  short  account  of  himself, 
from  the  time  he  was  taken  in  St.  Johns  in  1775  to  that 
time." 

Returning  to  the  house,  writing  materials  were  supplied 
him,  and  since  he  was  informed  that  his  papers  were  sent  to 
Washington,  whose  orders,  and  not  Arnold's,  should  decide 
his  condition,  he  immediately  wrote  to  our  commander. 


<M 


ANDRE    TO    WASHINGTON. 

Salem,  the  2Uh  Sept.  1780.  —  Sir:  What  I  have  as  yet 
said  concerning  myself  was  in  the  justifiable  attempt  to  be 
extricated ;  I  am  too  little  accustomed  to  duplicity  to  have 
succeeded. 

I  beg  your  Excellency  will  be  persuaded  that  no  alteration 


lore  proper  per- 


i.  should  decide 


lat  no  alteration 


LETTER  TO  WASHINTON.  ggS 

to  rescue  mjself  from  an  imnutation  J I    ■  '  " 

mean  character  for  tr^Jhl  *™S  assnmed  a 

conduct  inrraMe:-:^  IT  •""•T'  "'  -'If-i'^t^rest,  a 

well  a,  „i,h  mr^di  i  n^ '  r"!:  r.„'^;'r™'''  -'  ■« 

that  I  .peak  and  not  ,„  solicit  t„r.''  ''r^^'^Z  "l^^'""' 
for  this  purpose  T  hJ^  r,  ^  correspondence 

person.  ^  I^g"nentals  and  had  fairly  risked  my 

Ihis  occasion  &  wm  to  Le  Iw'^'T  "^  ^^"^'"■™  °" 
been  affected,  by  a  rlSl  ."*  ""'^  ^  "'"'"«™ 

night  as  I  had  been    t'^^  Th"u:'  ^  """^  !''^  ™" 
l,Q,i  *^  .  "lougnt.      ihus  become  prisoner   T 

had  to  concert  mv  e<iostno       t  „  -xx  j  i^'isuucr   i 

parties  and  left  to  press  for  n!    v    i       I  ^""""^^ 

Having  avowed  myself  a  British  Olfic 


icer,  I  have  nolli 


ingto 


32G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRf). 


reveal  but  what  relates  to  myself  which  is  true  on  the  hon- 
our  of  an  officer  and  a  Gentleman.  The  request  I  have  to 
make  to  your  Excellency  and  I  am  conscious  I  address  my- 
self  well,  is  that  in  any  rigor  policy  may  dictate,  a  decency 
of  conduct  towards  me  [may]  mark  that  tho'  unfortunate  I 
am  branded  with  nothing  dishonorable  as  no  motive  could  be 
mine  but  the  service  of  my  King  and  as  I  was  involuntarily 
an  impostor. 

Another  request  is,  that  I  may  be  permitted  to  write  an 
open  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  another  to  a  friend,  for 
cloaths  and  linnen. 

I  take  the  liberty  to  mention  the  condition  of  some  gentle- 
men at  Charlestown  who  being  either  on  parole  or  under 
protection  were  ingaged  in  a  Conspiracy  against  us.  Tho' 
their  situation  is  not  exactly  similar,  they  are  objects  who 
may  be  set  in  exchange  for  me,  or  are  persons  whom  the 
treatment  I  receive  might  affect. 

It  is  no  less  Sir  in  a  confidence  in  the  generosity  of  your 
mind,  than  on  account  of  your  superior  station  that  I  have 
chosen  to  importune  you  with  this  letter.  I  have  the  honor 
to  be  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient 
&  most  humble  servant,  John  Andr£,  Adj.  Genl. 

His  Excy.  Gen.  Washington. 

This  letter  written,  a  load  was  lifted  from  Andre's  mind. 
He  was  no  longer  compelled  to  associate  with  gentlemen  un- 
der a  false  name  and  guise.  Despite  Tallmadge's  previous 
suspicions,  its  contents  amazed  him  when  it  was  given  him  to 
read:  but  neither  he,  nor  King,  Bronson,  and  the  other  offi- 
cers at  the  post,  could  remain  unmoved  by  the  refinement  and 
amiability  of  their  guest.  His  other  arts  came  in  aid  of  his 
conversational  powers,  and  with  ready  hand  and  easy  light- 
heartedness  of  manner,  he  sketched  his  own  progress  under 
the  rude  escort  of  militia  to  their  quarters.  "  This,"  said  he 
to  Bronson,  "  will  give  you  an  idea  of  the  style  in  which  I 
have  had  the  honor  to  be  conducted  to  my  present  abode." 


is  true  on  the  hon- 
request  I  have  to 
ous  I  address  my- 
dictate,  a  decency 

tho'  unfortunate  I 
»o  motive  could  be 

was  involuntarily 

mitted  to  write  an 
ler  to  a  friend,  for 

n  of  some  gentle- 
i  parole  or  under 
against  us.  Tho' 
'  are  objects  who 
tersons  whom  the 

[enerosity  of  your 
ation  that  I  have 
'.  have  the  honor 
y's  most  obedient 
ni,  Adj.  Genl. 


tn  Andre's  mind, 
ith  gentlemen  un- 
madge's  previous 
was  given  him  to 
id  the  other  offi- 
»e  refinement  and 
Eime  in  aid  of  his 
I  and  easy  light- 
1  progress  under 

"  This,"  said  he 
style  in  which  I 

present  abode." 


INTEKCOUKSE  WITH  AMERICAN  OmCEBS.        S27 

With  similar  pleasantries  he  passed  away  (he  mominc  as  ™ 
ooncernedly  as  .hough  he  were  in  „„  danger  whatever 

±-tekskill  and  Danbury,  he  was  expected  to  return  bv  tt 
ame  route;  and  Jameson's  messenger  came  nea  y  to  Cn- 

l;:.ry  .n  hope  to  meet  him.    From  prudential  or  ^ther  mo 
ves  however,  Washington  had  followed  the  way  thlt  s,r"I 

«.e  Hudson  higher  up.     He  passed  through  Providenee 

tZ  h?r  '"""="  """  r''"'  ^"<»  '""^  a<^lamatZs  :   : 
»med  h,s  appearance.     "We  may  be  beaten  by  the  Eng- 

o    war,  b  .  behold  an  army  which  they  can  never  conquer." 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  24th  he  reached  Fishkill,  ei 'hteen 
mdcs  above  Robinson's  House,  and  after  a  brief  halt  sSh 
agam  m  des  gn  to  spend  the  night  with  Arnold.     Seal  had 
ho  ndden  three  miles,  however,  when  unexpectedrhe  e^^ 
countered  the  French  envoy,  M.  de  Luzerne, 'on  his  way  a  so 
o  Eochambeau.    There  was  much  to  be  said  on  both  sMes 
n.e  day  was  advanced,  and  the  minister  was  urgent  ttot' 
Washmgton  should  turn  back  to  the  nearest  public  house 
He  returned  thus  to  Fishkill  and  he,-e,  as  has  been  observed 
at  an  entertainment  provided  by  General  Scott  for  the XtL 
gutshed  vsjtors,  he  sat  at  board  with  Joshua  Smith,  each  It  le 
reammgof  what  had  transpired  since  the  yesterdaV  mor„in' 
r  of  the  blow  that  averted  f™m  the  one  should  so  shortly  faU 

urnes  to  Bob,nson-s  House,  with  intimation  that  Washin.v,on 

and  his  suite  would  be  there  to  breakfast.  " 

Winding  through  rugged  hills  that  Chastellux  describes  as 

proper  abodes  of  bears,  the  main  road  appn>ached  tte 

udson  but  a  httle  above  West  Point ,  and  here  Washington 

rTam     Va"?      «  '  """"^  '"""  '^'"•=''  ''^^'"""'  «-"^" 
stream.      La  Fayette  remonstrated  at  the  diversion  •  thev 

were  already  late,  and  their  hostess  expected  them.    «  Ah," 

said  Washington,  "  I  know  you  young  men  are  all  in  lov^ 


V      ii 


328 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDR£. 


with  Mrs.  Arnold,  and  wish  to  get  where  she  is  as  soon 
as  possible.  You  may  go  and  take  your  breakfast  with 
her,  and  tell  her  not  to  wait  for  me.  I  must  ride  down  and 
examine  the  redoubts  on  this  side  of  the  river,  and  will  be 
there  in  a  short  time."  But  his  suite  remained  also,  save 
two  aides  who  rode  on  with  the  message.* 

Breakfast  was  served  without  delay  on  their  arrival  at 
Robinson's  House,  and  with  Arnold's  family  and  Burnet  and 
some  other  officers  they  sat  down  in  the  low-ceiled  room 
that  still  remains  unchanged.  Heavy  beams  extend  above  ; 
and  wainscotting  protects  a  fireplace  without  a  mantelpiece. 
Opening  into  this  was  another  room  used  by  Arnold  as  an 
office.  While  at  table,  a  letter  was  delivered  to  the  Gen- 
eral. It  was  Jameson's  of  the  23rd,  now  brought  by  Allen, 
that  told  him  of  Andre's  capture,  of  his  detention,  and  of  the 
travj  ^mission  to  Washington  of  the  papers  that  he  bOre. 
Burnet,  McHenry,  and  others  afterwards  remarked  on  the 
tranquillity  with  which  he  received  the  terrible  tidings  this 
scroll  conveyed.  Some  little  embarrassment  he  indeed  be- 
trayed, but  nothing  in  his  manner  or  words  indicated  its 
momentous  nature  or  cause.  He  retained  his  place  for 
several  minutes,  joining  in  the  general  conversation :  then 
pleading  business,  he  begged  his  guests  to  make  themselves 
at  home  while  he  was  for  a  little  absent  from  them.  For  he 
well  knew  that  he  had  not  a  minute  to  lose.  It  was  now 
two  full  days  since  Andr^  was  taken,  and  Washington  might 
in  any  instant  come  upon  him  in  full  possession  of  his  guilty 
secret.  To  the  Aides  he  said  that  he  was  compelled  to  cross 
to  West  Point  without  delay,  and  bade  them  tell  their  chief 
on  arriving  that  he  would  speedily  return. 

But  his  wife's  experienced  eye  had  already  detected  an  agi- 
tation in  her  husband's  manner  which  escaped  those  less  ob- 
servant :  and  while  he  made  his  apologies  to  his  guests,  she  bad 

*  Whether  these  were  Hamilton  and  McHeiuy  or  Shaw  and  McHenry, 
I  am  not  clear.  See  Hamilton  Hist.  Rep.  11.  51 .  Cooper's  Trav.  Bach.  i. 
211.    Penn.  Packet,  Oct.  3, 1780.    Thacher,  2fin. 


1 


ARNOLD'S  ESCAPE.  329 

also  risen  from  Ihe  board,  and  followed  him  from  the  apart 
Zr  h   ^"^7"»"y  "--^^ri-g  Allen  .0  mention  ,0  n„Co 

lain  of  U^t  "  T"'  '""^  "'''■»-'"•  "»  ^^   ho 
coMwam  of  his    barge  be  summoned  and  a  horse  nr,. 

pared     "Any  horse,"  he  eried,  _  «  even  a  ZJ^XZT' 

Then  he  repaired  to  M,-s.  Arnold's  chamber  and  ,^i.h  steL 

rev-ty  apprised  her  that  they  must  at  onee  part, Id  t™ 

haps  forever:  that  his  life  depended  on  his  inst^nT /r 

The  panic-struek  woman  screamed  loudly  while  thiH^ 

^s  tirr-'' '-'  "'-"^^  «'arm:;?:;rd';:? 

mistress,  pressed  her  swooning  form  to  his  breast  save  « 
.as  y  kiss  to  his  „n„onscio„s  child,  and  passed  a^i„t  he 

lo:t?h:r':?:^i:iXof  r "'  'r "''""" 

who  followed  on  foo.  dal^dot' the'p  h^.^h  Z:Z 
mile  brought  him  to  the  water-side  ;  Larvev  shontin.  ,.l 
hargemen  as  he  descended  to  hasted  .0  h  fr  pC^  gef/ 
-g  the  holstei.  from  his  saddlebow,  Arnold  p^ng  into  t 
boat,  and  ,„  his  eagerness  to  be  gone  would  have  Z  the 
bowman  push  off  ere  all  the  men  were  mustered.  I„1  mt 
meat  they  were  in  the  stream ;  and  with  nervous  anxietv  but 

P  slols,  and  retaining  them  in  his  hands  kept  cockin..  and 
haf-cockmg  them  along  all  the  way.     He  saUt  wouM^secm 

If inT'  T  """r  '"^  "ow-oarsman  answering  1  hta 

hat  in  their  haste  the  erew  had  brought  no  weapons  sa>^ 

.wo  swords,  his  vexation  was  not  conceded.    hZ:  r"  e 

He  was  in  his  favor,  and  he  hurried  them  on.     He  bore' 

ag,  he  said,  to  the  Vulture,  seventeen  or  eighteen  miles  be! 

rll  H  ?h       \T  ''""""  '  "'■'"  '"""  S»"°"»  <"■  ■■""'  should 
eward  their  labor.      The  oarsmen,  observes  Washinston 

b  nt    o  Z'-       '^r    T"^  hy  'heir  genemfs  words,  they 
bent  to  their  work  and  the  barge  spun  through  the  iaters 


Ml 
m 


iff  > 


330 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDUfi. 


Well  might  Arnold  be  in  haste,  for  behind  him  and  on  either 
side  was  danger.  As  he  neared  King's  Ferry,  the  ship 
came  broadly  into  view,  riding  at  anchor  a  little  below  the 
mooring  where  Andre  left  her  and  still  waiting  his  return. 
Gliding  between  Verplanck's  and  Stony  Points,  Livingston 
from  the  shore  in  amazement  recognized  his  commander 
waving  as  a  white  flag  the  handkerchief  he  had  bound  to  the 
end  of  his  walking-stick :  and  with  no  suspicion  of  the  plot 
was  nevertheless  so  surprised  at  the  scene  that  he  would  fain 
have  manned  a  guard-boat  and  come  alongside  of  Arnold  to 
know  the  meaning  of  such  anomalous  procedures.  But  the 
crews  were  dispersed  on  shore,  and  ere  anything  could  be 
done  the  barge  was  under  the  Vulture's  batteries.  Livings- 
ton afterwards  thought  his  presence  in  this  juncture  would 
have  so  disturbed  the  traitor  that  his  secret  would  have 
escaped,  and  his  person  probably  seized  ;  but  it  is  question- 
able whether  anything  could  now  have  shaken  Arnold's 
composure,  and  whether  on  the  first  attempt  at  restraint  he 
would  not  have  blown  out  Livingston's  brains. 

Alongside  of  the  ship,  Arnold  unbound  his  handkerchief 
and  wiped  from  his  brow  the  great  beads  which  hung  there. 
Hastening  on  board,  he  explained  to  Sutherland  and  Robin- 
son the  position  of  affairs,  and  calling  up  the  bargemen, 
endeavored  to  allure  them  into  the  king's  service  under 
threats  of  retaining  them  else  as  prisoner? ,  The  coxswain 
Larvey  sturdily  refused.  "  If  General  Arnold  likes  the  king 
of  England  let  him  serve  him,"  quoth  he;  ''we  love  our 
country,  and  intend  to  live  or  die  in  support  of  her  cause  " : 
and  so  said  his  six  comrades.  Sutherland,  though  indignant, 
would  not  interfere  with  Arnold's  orders.  He  bade  Larvey 
go  with  his  flag  to  shore  and  procure  some  necessaries  for  the 
party ;  and  when  they  reached  New  York  Clinton  at  once  gave 
them  their  parole :  an  unusual  favor  to  private  men.  Two 
of  them,  English  deserters,  had  wept  bitterly  on  the  ship  at 
the  prospect  of  going  to  New  York  to  be  identified  and 
hanged  :  once  there,  they  slipped  on  board  a  letter  of  marque 


IIOBINSON  TO  WASHINGTON.  831 

just  ready  to  sail,  and  got  away  undiscovered.  The  re- 
mainder were  released  with  a  parting  word  and  some  money 
from  Arnold,  and  were  soon  again  with  their  friends  * 

There  was  nothing  to  keep  the  Vulture  longer,  after  a  fla- 
Lad  been  sent  to  Verplanck's  with  letters  to  Washington  from 
Arnold  and  Robinson.  The  first,  with  an  enclosed  letter  to 
h.s  wife  and  assurances  of  her  innocence  and  entreaties  for 
her  protection,  contained  also  some  protestations  of  integrity. 
The  last  is  as  follows:—-  ^ 


ROBINSON   TO    WASHINGTON. 

Vulture  of  Shmnk,  Sept.  25th,  1780.--  Sm  :  I  am  this 
moment^  informed  that  Major  Andre,  Adjutant  Genl.  of  His 
Majesty  s  Army  in  America,  is  detained  as  a  prisoner  by  the 
army  under  your  command.    It  is  therefore  incumbent  on 
me  to  inform  you  of  the  manner  of  his  falling  into  your 
hands :  He  went  up  with  a  flag,  at  the  request  of  General 
Arnold,  on  publick  business  with  him,  and  Imd  his  permit  to 
return  by  land  to    New-York;   under  these  circumstances 
Major  Andr^  cannot  be  detained  by  you,  without  the  greatest 
violation  of  flags,  and  contrary  to  the  custom  and  usage  of 
all  nations,  and  as  I  imagine  you  will  see  this  matter  in  the 
same  point  of  view  as  I  do,  I  must  desire  you  will  order  him 
to  be  set  at  liberty,  and   allowed  to  return  immediately  • 
every  step  Major  Andre  took  was  by  the  advice  and  direc' 
tion  of  General  Arnold,  even  that  of  taking  a  feigned  name, 
and  of  course  not  liable  to  censure  for  it.     I  am.  Sir,  not  for- 
getting our  former  acquaintance,  your  very  H.  Sert. 

Bev.  Kobinson,  Colo. 

*  Heath  says  when  Larvey  was  oiTered  a  commission  in  the  British  ser 
vice,  he  swore  he  would  be  —  before  he  fought  on  both  side7  buUha 
dscontented  at  not  receiving  from  the  Americans  what  the  enemy  had 
proposed,  he  sought  and  got  his  discharge  from  our  armv.  That  Arnold 
a  0  gave  the  crew  their  choice  of  going  ashore  or  of  enlisting  wi  h  him 
hat  one  or  two  stayed,  and  the  rest  were  sent  ashore  with  Larvev  is  aSo 
asserted  by  Heath,  whose  authority  here  is  very  good  indeed 


hljlil 


882 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


i>iS> 


The  anchor  was  weighed,  and  on  the  flag's  return  the  ship 
made  sail  that  urternoon,  and  reached  New  York  the  next 
morning. 

Meanwhile  Jumeaon's  courier  in  quest  of  Washington  had 
passetl  tiuougU  South  Salem  and  probably  received  there 
Andre's  letter  of  the  24th.  He  came  to  Robinson's  House 
after  the  chief  had  crossed  the  river.  For  when  he  heard 
on  arrival  near  noon,  and  a  full  hour  after  Arnold's  depart- 
ure, what  that  oflicer  had  said  '^nd  done,  "Washington  thought 
there  was  no  better  dine  for  examining  the  works  at  West 
Point  than  when  its  commander  was  on  the  spot.  After  a 
liurried  breakfast,  he  hastened  away  to  be  back  ere  dinner- 
time ;  followed  by  La  Fayette  and  all  his  suite  save  Hamil- 
ton. As  they  crossed  the  river,  overhung  with  lofty  crags 
and  hills,  Washington  listened  for  the  thirteen  great  guns 
that  should,  salute  his  approach.  The  echoing  thunders  of 
cannon  here  reverberating  from  the  opposite  banks  had  ac- 
quired a  sort  of  celebrity.  But  no  bustle  of  preparation 
greeted  his  coming,  nor  was  there  any  exhibition  of  the 
ibrmal  pomp  and  ceremony  of  war.  The  party  were  per- 
mitted to  land  with  no  acknowledgment  of  its  quality,  and 
the  commanding  oliieer  had  barely  time  to  hurry  down  tho 
path  to  receive  it. 

To  a  character  of  Washington's  punctilio  this  manner  of 
reception  was  not  agreeable.  Lamb  in  some  confusion  apol- 
ogized for  it  by  stating  the  unexpected  nature  of  the  visit. 
"  How  ! "  said  the  Chief,  "  is  not  General  Arnold  here  ? " 
"No,  sir,  we  have  not  seen  him  on  this  side  of  the  river  to- 
day." Washington  said  afterwards  that  on  this  he  was  struck 
with  the  impropriety  of  Arnold's  conduct,  and  had  some  mis- 
givings ;  but  he  never  for  a  moment  suspected  the  real  c.  •;e. 
The  party  climbed  the  hill,  and  after  an  hour  or  two  of  gen- 
eral inspection  and  the  tardy  salute  of  thirteen  guns  being  at 
last  rendered,  it  returned  to  the  other  shore. 

As  they  drew  near  Robinson's  House,  Hamilton  ws  seen 
excitedly  pacing  the  court-yard  with  a  parcc^  of  papers  in  his 


ituri)  the  ship 
ork  the  next 

shlngton  had 
iceived  there 
nson's  House 
len  he  heard 
lold's  depart- 
igton  thought 
arks  at  West 
pot.  After  a 
k  ere  dinner- 
I  save  Harail- 
,h  lofty  crags 
n  great  guns 
;  thunders  of 
tanks  had  iic- 
■  preparation 
bition  of  the 
ly  were  per- 
quality,  and 
rry  down  tho 

is  manner  of 
)nfusion  apol- 
i  of  the  visit, 
nold  here  ? " 
the  river  to- 
le  was  struck 
lad  some  mis- 
lie  real  cr  -ie. 
r  two  of  gen- 
guns  being  at 

ton  w''3  seen 
papers  in  his 


THli  TKEASON  DISCOVERED.  $33 

hands.    These  were  Jameson's  enelosurcs  that  had  arrived 
about  2  P  M.,  and  whieh  in  virtue  of  his  post  the  secretary 
had  opened  m  h.s  chief's  absence.    Retiring  together  to  their 
exammation,  they  soon  possessed  Arnold's  secret.     It  was  at 
once  resolved  to  arrest  him  if  possible,  and  Hamilton  and 
McHenry  were  despatched  at  full  gallop  to  Verplanck's  for 
tlm  end.     But  .t  was  4  p.  m.  when  they  started  in  pursuit  of 
a  man  who  had  left  at  10  a.  m.  ;  who,  ere  their  feet  were  in 
the  stirrups,  must  have  been  under  the  Vulture's  guns.     By 
7  r.M,  notice  that  the  Vulture  was  gone  with  Arnold  to  New 
lork  came  with  llobinson's  and  the  traitor's  letters  to  head- 
quarters. 

Washington  had  not  noised  the  treason.     He  saw  Mrs. 
Arnold,  whose  hysterical  passion  satisfied  all  about  her  that 
she  could  cornmunicate  nothing  in  regard  to  the  business ; 
and  to  La  Fayette  and  Knox,  with  eyes  suffused,  he  had 
privately  revealed  the  affair.     ''  Arnold  is  a  traitor  and  has 
fled  to  the  Bntish,"  said  he.     "  Whom  can  we  trust  now  ?  " 
But  the  gravity  of  the  risk  was  not  lost  on  him:  the  very 
day  had  doubuess  arrived  that  had  originally  been  fixed  on 
or  the  execution  of  the  design  ;  and  as  the  wind  was  favora- 
ble for  an  ascending  fleet,  there  was  no  knowing  but  what  an 
attack  miglit  be  made  that  very  night.     Brief  space  sufficed 
to  show  that  every  thing  possible  had  been  done  to  facilitate 

r    n      .J'T      ''■'''  ^'""^  "'^^^'"'"^  '  '^'^  ''^^P'  dispersed, 
l^orthwith  the  garrison  was  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  the  lines 

manned^  Couriers  were  now  senf  in  every  direction,  brin..- 
mg  up  detachments  of  the  garrisoa  ;  warning  officers  to  stan°d 
0.1  then-  guard ;  and  rousing  with  the  alarm  the  camp  at 
lappaan  from  its  midnight  slumbers.  When  he  perceived 
the  condition  of  his  hostess,  Washington  with  entire  calm- 
ness bade  ue  guests  sit  down  without  ceremony,  since  her 
ilaess  and  Arnold's  absence  left  no  other  alternative:  and 
no  stranger  would  have  conjectured  from  his  maimer  that  he 
was  in  possession  of  the  fatal  secret. 
Ere  the  cloth  was  removed,  the  affiiir  began  to  leak  out 


334 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl!:. 


in  whispers  among  the  guests ;  and  it  was  not  until  the  2Gth 
or  27th  that  it  was  buzzed  openly  abroad.  But  when  Ar- 
nold's letter  came  in,  the  rage  which  Washington  had  so  far 
kept  down  seemed  about  to  obtaiii  full  sway ;  and  they  who 
were  accustomed  to  note  his  every  change  of  mood  or  coun- 
tenance saw,  or  thought  they  saw,  according  to  La  Fayette, 
the  bursting  of  a  mighty  storm  of  wrath.  But  every  angry 
word  was  suppressed.  "  Go,"  he  said  to  an  aide,  "  to  Mrs. 
Arnold,  and  inform  her  that  though  my  duty  required  no 
means  should  bo  neglected  to  arrest  General  Arnold,  I  have 
great  pleasure  in  acquainting  her  that  he  is  now  safe  on  board 
a  British  vessel  of  war."  * 

As  may  be  supposed,  where  no  one  knew  how  far  the  trea- 
son had  extended  or  by  what  means  it  had  been  carried  on, 
the  wildest  rumors  flew  from  mouth  to  mouth  ;  some  tolera- 
bly true,  many  intolerably  unfounded.  Chief  among  these 
was  the  still  repeated  tale  that  Andre  had  penetrated  our 
works  at  West  Point,  when  in  truth  he  had  been  no  nearer 
to  them  than  the  outside  of  the  forts  at  King's  Ferry,  many 
miles  below.  The  bargemen  were  lately  and  may  yet  be 
living  in  the  full  belief  that  they  had  carried  Arnold  and 
Andre  up  from  Smith's  house  to  head-quarters  ;  and  described 

*  Trav.  Bach.  i.  216.  In  this  work  Mr.  Cooper  gives  several  particulars 
of  Arnold's  treason,  that  possess  a  particular  value  from  the  authorities 
which  supplied  them.  He  heard  not  only  La  Fayette's  recollections  de- 
clared forty-five  years  later  on  the  very  ground,  but  also  had  "  Arnold's 
own  statement  from  a  British  officer,  who  was  present  when  the  latter  re- 
lated his  escape  at  a  dinner  given  in  New  York,  with  an  impudence  that 
was  scarcely  less  remarkable  than  his  surprising  self-possession."  That 
details  so  valuable  are  so  little  referred  to  proceeds  perhaps  from  the  ex- 
ceeding dulness  of  the  book :  but  La  Fayette's  evidence,  given  from  recol- 
lections that  in  the  outset  were  tinged  with  great  excitement,  must  be  cau- 
tiously received.  Thus  to  Mr.  Cooper  he  said  that  when  McHenry  entered 
the  chamber  where  he  was  dressing  for  dinner,  and  carried  off  his  pistols 
to  pursue  Arnold,  not  a  word  was  said  of  the  plot;  nor  was  it  apparently 
communicated  to  him  till  he  and  Knox  learned  it  together  from  Washing- 
ton. In  his  Memoirs,  however,  the  marquis  distinctly  asserts  that  "G<n- 
eral  Washington  and  I "  discovered  the  conspiracy.  It  is  possible  that 
Marbois  may  have  derived  from  this  source  some  of  his  information. 


nUMOuits  OF  Tin:  dav.  333 

.ho  occmion  will,  „  minu.cn,,,,  tl,„.  oeml.,  ,0  every  „,,ielo 
"1  tl,o  ™,,p„.ed  ,py,  „pp„,el.  Letter,  „f  .|,e  peri«l  fl„° 
ou  anny  reporled  ,l,„.  di,g„i,ed  ,.,  Smi.l,',  ,ervL"l„T„ 
."J  gone  „|,  .,,„„„,,  „,„  .  „,_^^  ,__^         „,„„:;  ™  and 

l.c.r«yed  by  „  Ilri,i,h  deserter,  and  brougl,.  in  wi.h  Wa™ 

tmn.     Ihe  best  BriHsl,  contemporary  Ko,<,in  «av,  tb„f  1 
was  bcrayed  by  Smith,  whose  L-L  Ta,  dT,„  ^ 
...any  people  in  New  York ,  ,ba.  on  1.  s°„:^  tZt^l 
clandesfne  n,eeti„g  with  Arnold,  he  wa.,  stopped! Ton." 
Amencan,  who  at  n,-st  dismissed  but  aaerwar^  pursued  "d 

So  I  Un^ '::"'"'="""'!  •""""'■■  """-  ""advi",  d 
mem  to  let  h,m  go,  since  if  they  took  him  to  their  officers 

.1.0  spo.  would  be  forfei.ed.  that  he  did  not  offer  them  .  ,e"' 

nothing  but  that  he  was  a  spy,  until  some  of  our  own  snies 
.aentified  h,m  two  of  whom  had  long  resided  in  New  S 
s  loyalists :  that  it  was  Arnold's  disap;rov.l  which  prevented 
1..S  return  by  a  flag,  and  that  ho  would  give  no  explana,  ™ 
of  the  papei.  he  bore  or  of  the  conneetious  he  had  fo™"i 
.n  our  army.      Those  accounts,  mi«d  with   much  eZr 


^  Set 

s  ?:» 

■  Sft" 

^^i 

^  ^? 

^1 ' 

Ni 

-'*^i 

>»'^i 

.  '^f^' 

^  ^^ 

t    [^(i> 

mIc"*  '■' 

iS"''*) 

j    ^iSt» 

i 

'  '''IH 

t.l  ll 


I'  I 


CHAPTER  XVIIl. 

A.ndr(5  brought  to  "West  Point.  —  Sent  to  Tappaan.  —  Ilis  Case  submitted 
to  a  Court  of  Enquiry.  —  Its  Decision  approved  by  Washington. 

It  has  been  reported  that  Arnold  bade  his  wife  burn  all  hia 
papers.  This  she  did  not  do  ;  and  they  were  of  course  nov/ 
seized,  and  eventually  scattered  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven. 
From  these,  and  from  information  of  his  recent  movements, 
a  ray  of  light  began  to  penetrate  the  mystery.  Orders  were 
already  sent  that  Andrd  should  be  brought  up ;  at  7  P.  m. 
of  the  25th,  these  were  repeated,  with  injunctions  to  guard 
against  his  escape.  "I  would  not  wish  Mr.  Andre  to  be 
treated  with  insult,"  wrote  Washington ;  "  but  he  does  not 
appear  to  stand  upon  the  footing  of  a  common  prisoner  of 
war,  and  therefore  he  is  not  entitled  to  the  usual  indulgences 
Avhich  they  receive,  and  is  to  be  most  closely  and  narrowly 
watched."  The  first  courier  reached  Sheldon's  post  at  mid- 
night. Andre  was  in  bed  at  the  time,  but  he  arose  and  pre- 
pared to  obey  the  orders.  A  more  dismal  night  for  so  dis- 
mal a  journey  could  not  have  been  found.  The  rain  fell 
heavily  and  the  skies  were  dark  and  scowling,  when  he  part- 
ed with  companions  to  whom  he  avowed  so  many  obligations, 
and  among  whom,  he  said,  whatever  happened  to  him  he 
could  never  thenceforward  recognize  a  foe.  Tl\e  strong  es- 
cort that  guarded  him  was  led  by  King ;  and  when  it  came 
to  North  Salem  meeting-house,  he  met  the  second  express, 
who  bade  him  change  his  route.  On  the  way,  probably  as 
a  further  precaution,  Tallmadge  and  two  other  officers  joined 
the  party  that,  marching  all  night,  came  to  Robinson's  House 
on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  the  2Gth  September.  Smith, 
who  had  already  been  brought  there  a  prisoner,  gives  a  very 


ANDES  AT  WEST  POINT.  337 

that  Wash,„g.o„  apoko  t™!  „n  ;r„"  ""'  ""*'"'""'' 
strong  language  to  wrin-.  fori  To    e  "".'  ""^  "'«> 

dealings.  °         ^  "  confession  of  his  guilty 

Ihaline  of  a  p,M™t.",fr""'j'""'''  P™'^'  '""'-h" 
geneml,  and  if  wron.  hJ      "  '™  "^  "">  *"=<='i°"  of  that 

agreeably  to  LoZs  He  """"f'''  ""'  ■"<='  •""^  """"S 
you  know  that  Genet  Arn^Mr™:?'"^  '''^P''^''' '  ^'"'  d" 
»n  whom  you  l^oitZl       I''' ""'  """  *^^-  ^"<'«- 

Maio.  joh/An4:h:x.a:i:sj:^^^^^^^^^  '° "« 

fe«  who  were  your,lt  r        t  V^^'  '""^  ""'"^^  y»"  -»"- 

yonder  treeS',"''  r  I'i""'  '"^P^"''  ^^  "  o» 

ordered  the  g™  d  T  tnlT  ^"'°''  "'"  *»^-     "^  'h™ 

mc  j,uaras  to  take  me  away" 

About  two  hours  Infnr  i.«  «^    *•  , 

horses,  and  soon  air  .Iltir  72%''!  '"''"^  "«tmmpof 
of  Washington  and  ,  i'  s„  ,e  Th  "  "''"'"'  ''"''  "">^ 
ducted  in  ;n  adjoining  aplen?:,,™^:^"""  ""'  ™"- 
10  repeat  it:  but  he  intim^  es Th"  ' il  1  .  "'"  P'''^"'"'' 

soothe  than  to  intimidate  the  1  .""^  ""'  "'""''  '" 

l"-m  further  informal  o^^f  1?  °""'  "'"'  '°  P'''"='"-<=  "-om 
Marbois,  must  ZllT^  consp.raey.  But  Smith,  lil^e 
means  here  t  at  aX  .°  ''"""'^  distrustfully,  and  if  ho 

indeed  and  asked  Mm  1?°'     '^"'•""S'O"  saw  Tallmadge 

-Ho„sattej;tt:u;:::ir:fiTf:^::;: 


338 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


by  guile  what  the  sword  could  not  accomplish,  Washington 
and  some  of  his  nearest  generals  had  peculiar  cause  for  in- 
dignation. The  patron  and  the  supporters  of  Arnold  knew 
too  well  the  deadly  hostility  of  many  powerful  civilians  to 
doubt  now  the  handle  that  might  be  made  of  this  transaction. 
St.  Clair  and  Schuyler  had  already  suffered  under  the  ca- 
lumnious suspicions  of  the  people  they  defended ;  and  the 
ridiculously  false  but  industriously  propagated  story,  that  the 
evacuation  of  Ticondcroga  was  purchased  by  Burgoyne  with 
silver  balls  which,  cast  into  our  lines,  were  collected  by  St. 
Clair  and  divided  between  Schuyler  and  himself,  was  not  dis- 
countenanced by  the,  action  of  Congress.  Schuyler  indeed,  a 
gentleman  by  birth,  education,  and  habit,  had  refused  longer 
to  hold  a  commission  which  subjected  him  to  unmerited  igno- 
miny,; but  St.  Clair's  fortune  was  scanty,  and  though  even 
now  he  was  unjustly  suspected  of  corrupt  dealings  with  the 
enemy,  he  continued  to  serve  in  the  field  with  unabated  zeal. 
Nor  was  Washington  himself,  long  distrusted  by  many  in 
Congress,  unconscious  of  the  motive  that  caused  his  army  to 
be  attended  by  a  permanent  committee  of  that  body ;  and  his 
earnest  and  fruitful  confidence  in  Arnold  gave  additional  vigor 
to  his  resentment  at  the  reward  his  confidence  had  received. 
"Whom  can  we  trust  liow?" — he  well  might  ask;  and  in 
the  extremity  of  his  anger,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  what 
his  favorite's  fate  would  have  been,  had  the  fortunes  of  war 
brought  him  into  American  hands.  In  after  life,  even  in  the 
most  unrestrained  hours  of  social  ease,  he  could  not  refer  to 
the  absconding,  officer  without  the  most  unmitigated  terms  of 
contempt :  and  at  the  existing  moment  he  seems  evidently  to 
have  shared  in  the  universal  sentiment  of  the  army,  that  by 
every  means  in  their  power,  a  dreadful  punishment  should  be 
inflicted  on  the  prisoners  in  his  hands  who  stood  nearest  to 
the  original  offence.  His  letters  written  prior  to  the  report  of 
the  Board  of  Officers  show  very  clearly  the  conviction  that 
Andre  was  a  spy,  and  that  Smith  was  equally  worthy  of 
death.     To  the  President  of  Congress  he  comments  (Sept. 


INDIGxXATION  OF  THE  ARMY.  339 

26th)  on  Andre's  letter  of  the  24th  as  «  Pn,i«        • 
.^athediC  „„tc„.e  under  .he  tcWp JotoTri'^/r''"" 

mh  ih.  °  '^'^^  ^  gallows  this  day."      On  fhp 

JOth,  the  press  controlled  by  the   narfv  tha.  1,  ^ 

opposed  Arnold  in  Philadelphi      he  sS  If  r         '"  f  "'^ 
directed  public  oninmn  f.  L         .  Congress,  loudly 

Hfe  were";.!' frie^:       L    re^'o^f  f'  "".T  "  -■"  ^"<'"'' 
Arnold's  effio-y  those  of  i„A  •      ,  o    .  '"""^  "^ay,  with 

.he..ee.,hf4tTC:':r,'T^;:rd-'T™:r"'"^'' 

of  the  British  Armv  «„j  T  ^l  ..  '  ^"«  Adj»tant-General 
and  the  other  asT  trl  ,  ,'"""' '  "'"  ""'  '""'"''^  -  "  W 
lived,  and  one  was  „  veTh  ''"r""'''"  ''"™'^'  '«'"'  ^'^ 
of  political  feelirshoT  '"'"^''^  ",""' ^  ^t  this  exhibition 

and  s„pre.e  hatred  f     ^^/^'eZLTTT'^  ' °""""" 
would  have  bartered  aw,v  fLT,  ^       ""  """^  """ 

-  t..o„gh  the,  .rLritrrf':,::  riir"^  ^""^'""-'^ 

.«.  but  .  ,e„e,  ,„„  vtSg  onTSa^S  f  r;';' ^7'»"'  '""P""- 
promulgation  of  Arnold's  nrivtf^  V    "^*'^i"'=*- 1^'  l^^C;  shows  that  the 

inquire  into  the  ChiSt,;Cthvwr^^^^^^^^  ";''  ""'^^^""^^  «-^  *« 

Phia,  and  to  inveigh  agS  SchuvTe       XV  T"  ?  '"'  '""'^'^^  *»*  ^'"'^del. 
skirts  from  any  «Lir^p  eftrenSr  1  rn^  '''''''  '"'^''^  ^'^  «^^ 

on  Schuyler's  character   aI^  d'lettefs'n".   "''''  ''^  ™P"^*-- 
inferred  fro.  the  reply  to  i^ t^h^,'  r^ef^^rd  if^^?  ^""  ^•^^^' 

cause  or  onlythelcltTfl'S^^^^^^^  .'^  '^^^ -^^«  *^e 

affair?  Is  Smith  han^^ed ?  CannTA  ,  ^"T"" '"'""''^ '"'''' ''^'^ *^«"''^'« 
»o  hear  all  the  details  ^f  tL  atrooitt  l  ,  -'^  '"^'f  '  '^™  ver,  curious 
ArnoM  is  not  the  only  m:;r;f  i  ^r,r:  ^r:?!  l^f .^^^l^  ^ 


'I 


I 


BBBBaai^KaHi 


840 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  the  prisoners  were  transported 
from  Robinson's  House  across  the  river  and  securely  bestowed 
at  West  Point.  On  the  27th,  Washington,  having  probably 
resolved  on  the  course  eventually  pursued,  sent  secret  orders 
to  Greene  that  he  should  receive  them  in  camp  on  the  ensu- 
ing day. 

"  They  will  be  under  an  escort  of  horse,  and  I  wish  you  to 
have  separate  houses  in  carap  ready  for  their  reception,  in 
which  they  may  be  kept  perfectly  secure ;  and  also  strong, 
trusty  guards  trebly  officered,  that  a  part  may  be  constantly 
in  the  room  with  them.  They  have  not  been  permitted  to  be 
together,  and  must  still  be  kept  apart.  I  would  wish  the 
room  for  Mr.  Andre  to  be  a  decent  one,  and  that  he  may  be 
treated  with  civility ;  but  that  h^  may  be  so  guarded  as  to 
preclude  a  possibility  of  his  escaping,  which  he  will  most 
certainly  attempt  to  effect,  if  it  shall  seem  practicable  in  the 
most  distant  degree." 

Accordingly  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  they  were  brought 
down  to  the  landing-place;  when,  says  Smith,  "I  saw  the 
amiable  Andre  near  me,  amongst  a  crowd  of  officers.  On 
stretching  my  hand  out  and  preparing  to  address  him,  I  was 
told  by  Major  Tallmadge  sternly  that  no  conversation  must 
take  place  between  us."  Each  was  seated  in  a  barge  well- 
manned,  and  with  a  favoring  tide  was  soon  at  Stony  Point. 
Here  at  the  King's  Ferry  landing,  a  detachment  of  the  2nd 
Light  Dragoons  was  in  waiting.  Tallmadge  took  the  com- 
mand and,  with  Andre  in  the  rear  and  his  companion  in  the 
van,  they  rode  away  through  Haverstraw  towards  Tappaan 
(or  Orangetown,  as  it  was  often  called),  where  lay  the  main 
army.  A  march  of  ten  miles  brought  them  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  John  Coe  Avhere,  while  Tallmadge  vigilantly  posted 
videttes  and  sentinels,  the  party  dined.  They  resumed  their 
journey  after  dinner  and  by  a  circuitous  route  reached  Tap- 

countrj-  suspicious  of  liis  virtue  is  not  the  most  culpable,  when  the  blind 
and  criminal  confidence  that  is  put  in  him  makes  him  a  traitor.  That's  bo- 
tween  you  and  me."  —  Col.  Louis  de  Fleury  to  Steuben,  Oct.  6, 1780.  Koj>2i's 
Steuben..  625, 


e  transported 
rely  bestowed 
zing  probably 
secret  orders 
>  on  the  ensu- 

I  wish  you  to 
reception,  in 
I  also  strong, 
be  constantly 
erraitted  to  be 
odd  wish  the 
mt  he  may  be 
guarded  as  to 
he  will  most 
cticable  in  the 

were  brought 
ii,  "  I  saw  the 
'  officers.  On 
Bss  him,  I  was 
rersation  must 

a  barge  well- 
t  Stony  Point, 
nt  of  the  2nd 
took  the  com- 
npanion  in  the 
fards  Tappaan 
i  lay  the  main 

to  the  house 
gilantly  posted 

resumed  their 
}  reached  Tap- 

e,  when  the  blind 
raitor.  That's  bc- 
t.  6, 1780.    Kopp's 


ANDRfi  SENT  TO  TAPPAAN  34^ 

Here  every  atfpnfmn  n,„*    •  «  «»  "»  me  /o  lavern. 

uiirtserveu.     Ihe  one  was  as  anxious  to  h'sten  n,  ih. 

passea  unopposed  up  ,„e  ste.p^'l  1^^  'o'    Fon  pII" 
The  acqu,smo„  of  this  key  to  all  the  works  wouTd  «  rtn' 

very  jar^e  pait  of  the  praises  sure  to  follow  in  the  train  nf 

n=e„t,  was  1  dis,!  ly  '  i  "w™'?',!''  '"  '?^'- 
store  for  him.  Military  glory  was  a7  he  '  t  "■""",'*  '" 
P.y:  the  applause  of  h?ki„7andl' o^yirteT 

and  keeper  in  regard  to  the  treatarfe  ^likXTr 

e.ve  fro.  our  hands.    Taltaadge  candidly  Z^'Zli 

he  fate  of  h,s  own  classmate  and  friend,  Nathan  Hale     "Ye, 

he  w.as  hanged  as  a  spy,"  quoth  Andre :  "  but  sure  v  v.     /' 

not  consider  his  case  and  Inine  alike  ?  "     "  1^'    are^^f"     f 

*<..    The  friendly  olTerl^  r]::^^::^  Z 


BHaiBLJiU  gHWHWWWi 


imUfmmmm 


342 


LIFE  OF  »LUOR  ANDK£. 


•         J: 


deficiencies  of  his  toilet  by  the  loan  of  a  dragoon  cloak  was 
declined,  although  it  had  been  suggested  by  Andre's  own 
comments  upon  the  shabby  apparel  he  was  wearing;  but 
Tallmadge's  urgency  at  length  procured  its  acceptance.  En- 
veloped in  its  folds,  he  came  into  our  quarters  * 

We  may  gather  from  Tallmadge's  reminiscences  that  till 
he  drew  near  Tappaan,  Andre  had  little  doubt  that  the 
Americans,  though  exasperated  at  what  had  occurred,  could 
not  fail  to  view  him  as  at  the  most  but  a  spy  in  appearance 
and  involuntarily ;  that  beyond  some  personal  discomforts, 
he  had  nothing  to  fear.  The  ominous  warning  of  Tallmadge 
was  confirmed  by  the  general  order  issued  by  Greene  on  the 
26th,  when,  as  senior  officer  in  Washington's  absence,  he 
promulged  to  the  army  the  explanation  of  the  alarm  which 
liad  resounded  through  the  camp. 

''Headquarters,  Orange  Town,  Sept.  26,  1780. —Treason 
of  the  blackest  dye  was  yesterday  discovered.     General  Ar- 
nold, who  commanded  at  West  Point,  lost  to  every  sentiment 
of  honour,  of  private  and  public  obligation,  was  about  to  de- 
liver that  important  post  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.     Such 
an  event  must  have  given  the  American  cause  a  deadly 
wound,  if  not  a  fatal  stab.     Happily  the  Treason  has  been 
timely  discovered  to  prevent   the  fatal  misfortune.     The 
Providential  train  of  circumstances  which  led  to  it  affisrds 
the  most  convincing  proofs  that  the  Liberties  of  America  are 
the  objects  of  Divine  Protection.     At  the  same  time  that  the 
Treason  is  to  be  regretted,  the  General  cannot  help  congrat- 
ulating the  army  in  the  happy  discovery.      Our  enemies 
despairing  of  carrying  their  point  by  force,  are  practising 
every  base  art  to  effect,  by  bribery  and  corruption,  what  they 
cannot  accomplish  in  a  manly  way.     Great  honour  is  due  to 
the  American  army  that  this  is  the  first  instance  of  Treason 
of  the  kind,  where  many  were  to  be  expected  from  the  na- 
ture of  the  dispute.     And  nothing  is  so  bright  an  ornament 
*  See  also  Tallmadge's  Letter  in  Appendix  No.  IV. 


n  cloak  was 
Lndr^'s  own 
earing ;  but 
tance. 


En- 


ces  that  till 

bt  that  the 

iurred,  could 

appearance 

discomforts, 

»f  Tallmadge 

reene  on  the 

absence,  he 

alarm  which 


I.  —  Treason 
General  Ar- 
iry  sentiment 
about  to  de- 
lemy.  Such 
jse  a  deadly 
son  has  been 
rtune.  The 
to  it  affords 
America  are 
time  that  the 
help  congrat- 
Our  enemies 
ire  practising 
on,  what  they 
tiour  is  due  to 
;e  of  Treason 
I  from  the  na- 
i  an  ornament 

i.lV. 


CLINTON  TO  AVASHINGTON.  343 

oue  as  a  ep,  ,„  „eg„«a..  „.e  ^^n^tot^l^,^  T 
Wllency  the  C«n,ma„der-i„.Cl.ief  has  aXd  a  '  4t 

.oJfof  hTsTf  ""'  '^""^"'^'^  eom™„„!ealed  to  Andre  by 

p-p.uude  in  ,he'  h„o  Ti;  ':„se'rd„;ird""  r 

nolds  letter  of  thp  9^^^,  4^  nr    1..  ^  uiciated.     Ar- 

Andr..  eondl       u  „t  h  7ttX\t''-  ""'  '""'"'^  ™ 
aides  nn^  ^c  c    •  u      T    .       ^^  erred  the  mnocence  of  his 

pern  cf  Tife    'J?  ,"'""^"'  ''^  <«d  »<>'  consider  the  prisoner  in 
ini  Ihlt  Anf  ^'""'"  "  "■'  '""■''  '™«  '""'  "''"^ed  Wash. 

r^r.  'ett::sti,i:'r^ '"";  ''"^'  ""-^  -^"— 

wnr     r>    ,t  •  ™  "■■'*  "  violat  on  of  the  laws  of 

tant-General,  enclosing  Arnold's  statement  of  the  case. 

CLINTON  TO  WAsmsaroif. 

nfZ^ltLo'  "'\~'"^--  B-S  -forced  that 
JorMaj^rGe  rild  •'::     "f™  T  "-"  ^'opped  „n- 

;^eri;^..ct,--r-rh^^ 

jou,  bn,  that  I  permitted  Major  Andr^  to  rm  fn  ivr  •      A 

of  Trie  rr:r;  rwo^i  ^ci;;^';^"  t"  -  "'"=- 
^™'«'^orhisret„r„.  n,::rir:it;rd:rh: 


§ 
^ 

s 


■■ 

•WSIblS!^  i 

i 

j 

|:    m. 

I   1 


344  LIFE  OF  MAJOll  ANDK£. 

your  Excellency  will  immediately  direct  that  this  officer  has 
permission  to  return  to  my  orders  in  New  York.  I  have 
the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

ARJIOLD    TO    CLINTON. 

Mw  York,  2G  Septemher,  1780.  —  Sir  :  In  answer  to  your 
Excellency's  message,  respecting  your  adjutant-general,  Ma- 
jor Andre,  and  desiring  my  idea  of  the  reasons  why  he  is 
detained,  being  under  my  passports,  I  have  the  honor  to  in- 
form you,  Sir,  that  I  apprehend  a  few  hours  must  restore 
Major  Andre  to  your  Excellency's  orders,  as  that  officer  is 
assuredly  under  the  protection  of  a  flag  of  truce  sent  by  me 
to  him  for  the  purpose  of  a  conversation,  which  I  requested 
to  hold  with  him  relating  to  myself,  and  which  I  wished  to 
communicate  through   that  officer  to  your  Excellency.     I 
commanded  at  the  time  at  West  Point,  had  an  undoubted 
ric^ht  to  send  my  flag  of  truce  for  Major  Andre,  who  came 
to°me  under  that  protection,  and,  having  held  my  conversa- 
tion with  him,  I  delivered  him  confidential  papers  in  my 
own  handwriting  to  deliver  to  your  Excellency;  thinking  it 
much  properer  he  should  return  by  land,  I  directed  him  to 
make  use  of  the  feigned  name  of  John  Anderson,  under 
which  he  had,  by  my  direction,  come  on  shore,  and  gave  him 
my  passports  to  go  to  the  White  Plains  on  his  way  to  New 
York.     This  officer  therefore  cannot  fail  of  being  imme- 
diately sent  to  New  York,  as  he  was  invited  to  a  conversa- 
tion with  me,  for  which  I  sent  him  a  flag  of  truce,  and  finally 
gave  him  passports  for  his  safe  return  to  your  Excellency ; 
all  of  which  I  had  then  a  right  to  do,  being  in  the  actual 
service  of  America,  under  the  orders  of  General  Washing- 
ton, and  commanding  general  at  West  Point  and  its  depen- 
dencies.     I  have  the  honor  to  be,  «S:c. 

To  these  communications  no  answer  was  at  present  given. 
Washington  was  not   perhaps  sorry  to  keep  the  enemy  in 


'S 


"■AS„,.V0X0K  CO.V..HS  .  „o.KO  OK  «..„,    3« 

»ucl,  suspense  concerning  Andre's  f..(„ 

pie  opportunity  of  prcnarin  "for /'       """"  ""■""••'  »"- 
oint  ere  nny  movem  „   ^^I^^.^fr™:'  t''"'"''  "^  ^-' 

He  also  probably  wisbcd  l„  ^    •      f      ''  ""^  ""''ertaken. 

erals  before  he  replied  A^!  T'l  "'"  "'"■"'»"  "f  '"^  g«.- 
of  .1.0  28th  repaired  io  ctTt'^'  "">"»"  '"o  o-n°i„. 
general  officer  present  wW,  .,  """'"''  "  '""■■'I  of  over; 
■Smith  declares  .l,e  gelr  "t'  """'  '"  ""  ™"™>od.^ 
object  «,as  rather  to  delermineT  T  '"  ''''"■"  '"""  """  "^ 

"■'"0" » flag  should  ;z^:  zir  f  ",r  '■•"■■•■'  "■•"- 

■«me  previous  difficulties  on    I's  "  "  7     '  """  '""'  ''oo" 
eule  on  Andre's  immediate  fate     Tl  ■■'■"'""•  ""■"• '»  do- 

absurd.     There  is  every  ret„:  ^'"'^''"'■'•o"  '^  manifestly 

7  deigned  than„ha[  L~  t;::;:  "'"'  r""'""'"- 

Kles,  It  must  not  be  for^oUen  ,3  f  ^         ''"'"'■''  =  '""^  ^"■ 
iaston  had  apparently  CTJn'r  ""'  ""S'oomg  Wash- 

""■d  '«ve  given  him       dc^h^    fr";,  ?  ""''^  "^'-ve 
wdom  that  always  characterized  ,i  '"  '"""''"  »"'' 

I'O  refrained  from  actin/.^so   f  oommander-in-dnef, 

J-.^..bo_best  opinion"::     s'^C'osrt-  ■"""  ""  ""- 
»f  which  justice  must  annrove     IM.  ,•        "  ™  '''oourse 
■■e  fearfully  .oused  eanTrd^;  J'""'"!  "?«■■  ^''""W  no,v 
Wlause  which  was  bestowed  on  t  '"??"''''•      '^'"'  ™'7 
""J  strength.      I,on»  after  hi,   ,  "  .'•''^"•'"»'  ^''ows  its  force 
lim  narrowly  observed, ha  w'r"''-  ?"^  "''o  '™1  ^'"died 
'""yirritableandhiglned  !l    "f'™^  "'""P''  "^  "'"o- 
"toined  a  firm  audi  Ibll^        T'""  ""'^  ''''^'"'•"on  ''■■><! 
l»'vever,  it  broke  its  boun      L      "  ^""^  °'"  "•     ''  "-r, 
"•;"'•"      It  should  be  atied  IZ  T  t*""™'""'  "•  "^ 
'""'out  good  cause  •  and  nl  "''™  'oldom  ros. 

«™  ".an  here.    The"   ou4 uUThe'^T  ''"""  '"•°™- 

°^  that  he  so  long  wanned  in  I,is 

*  So  it  is  aiithorifativelv  stito^-  ,.„f     u 

'«;nps  a  laudable  delicacy  ,^^1005.'''  ^^--^  ^ayne  and  Irvine? 


346 


r.IFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlfi. 


irned  to  Bting  him ;    the  dis- 


bosom Mk'  serpent  that  had  tui 
asi-eeablc  uncertainty  of  the  plot's  extent ;  the  public  danger, 
and  the  damape  his  own  prestige  and  that  of  the  cause  might 
receive  \n  Congress  and  with  the  French  ;  everythmg  com- 
bined to  incense  him.*     That  he  shouUl  resolve  therefore,  if 
the  measure  accorded  as  well  with  the  sense  of  justice  of 
others  as  with  his  own,  to  make  such  an  example  in  this  ca.-c 
as  would  efFectually  prevent  any  further  tampering  with  his 
subordinates,  is  as  natural  as  probable.     His  position  war- 
rants the  idea.     He  had  hazarded  everything  —  life,  fortune, 
reputation,  domestic  happiness  —  on  the  risk  of  success  ;  and 
now  after  five  years  of  battling  it  out  with  the  public  enemy 
and  with  his  own,  at  a  moment  when  America  could  hardly 
stagcrer  along,  when  all  his  soul  was  bent  on  maintaining 
matrers,  to  have  the  prize  snatched  at   in   this  underhand 
manner  was  too  much  for  human  endurance.     Had  he  not 
himself  deemed  Andre  a  spy  he  would  not,  in  my  opinion, 
have  summoned  the  board.    And  indeed  there  is  good  reason 
to  believe  that  even  before  they  came  together,  some  of  our 
principal  generals  had  learned  enough  of  the  facts  of  the  case 
to  satisfy  them  of  the  improbabiUty  of  their  arriving  at  any 
other  conclusion  than  that  the  prisoner  was  an  undoubted 

spy-t  .  ,    . 

On  Friday  then,  the  29th  September,  just  one  week  since 
he  had  started  from  Smith's  house  for  New  York,  Andre 
was  brought  before  the  tribu  al.  It  was  assembled  in  an 
old  Dutch  church  at  Tappaan,  now  pulled  down,  and  con- 


to 

> 

*  The  con-esponilence  between  M.  de  T  may  and  the  Count  de  \  cr- 
cennes  shows  how  seriously,  even  in  its  lopped  and  mutilated  state  the 
plot  affected  the  opinions  and  estimates  of  our  allies.  The  party-heats  ot 
Congress  were  unusually  violent  at  this  period,  and  its  committee  that  at- 
tended the  camp  was  falling  into  an  unpopularity  by  reason  of  the  tmc- 
ture  of  "  army  principles  "  it  had  imbibed.     See  Snarks's  Wash.  vn.  *.o, 

t'  "  He  has  a  great  antipathy  to  spies,  although  he  employs  them  him- 
self, and  an  utter  aversion  to  all  Indians,"  was  written  of  Washwigton  in 
the  beginning;  of  1780. 


m ;    the  dis- 
ublic  danger, 
cause  might 
rything  com- 
I  therefore,  if 
of  justice  of 
e  in  this  case 
ring  with  \m 
position  wnr- 
-  life,  fortune, 
success ;  and 
public  enemy 
could  hardly 
a  maintaining 
is  underhand 
Had  he  not 
n  my  opinion, 
is  good  reason 
r,  some  of  our 
tcts  of  the  case 
rriving  at  any 
an  undoubted 

)ne  week  since 

York,  Andre 

sembled  in  an 

own,  and  con- 


the  Count  de  Ver- 
lutilated  state,  the 
riie  party-heats  of 
committee  that  at- 
cason  of  the  tinc- 
Ls's  Wash.  vii.  2-20, 

mploys  them  him- 
of  Wasiiliigton  in 


ANDR,::  BROUGHT  BEFORE  THE  HUBUNAL    847 

w.    be  brought  before  you  for  your  exam^ua.ion.    Ho  eZ 

token  „„h,„  our  l.nes,  ,„  a  ai,g„;,,a  hnbi,,  „i.b  a  ,„„s  un- 

upon  luin  After  a  careful  examination,  vou  will  be  nl<.,se,l 
-  «peed,ly  „.  possible,  ,0  report  a  preeis-e  state  of  We' 
tagother  „,th  your  opinion  of  the  light,  in  which  t  ou»h   .^' 

he  w^lTl"  h^f  .^T"'"''''"''™  '"  ""^  -natter,  whiel 
pIm  '''^^'•'^'■''  ">»  »<"'■•''•  1  Lave  the  honor  to  be 
Gentlemen,  Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

The  Board  of  General  Omeer.  eo„ven*:a!:  t:^;?" 

.k",!,'  ',"  *"  '■?'■"'"''  """  "">  '"^k  of  composing  this  letter 
should  have  fallen  on  Hamilton,  between  whom   rndt 

171'  ""  '"'r""'''  "'■"ost  confidential  was  g'owl!  up! 

0  aTehir^^  'TFT:'  "™'  ■'-■■y --'■"'I  ^ome^wT; 

lent  or  T;  „  ^"  V""'  "'  """"^  ""^  "'»'  "fan  indict- 

rl 'ric  tin  i?/™'"'  T"""'  "^  f-"' o^-y  "-eader  will 

nthe  S        ''"""°  '='•'"■"'  *'"  ^"''■■'^  <="'«■■'"'  «>"•  lines 
»  the  n.ght  in  an  assumed  eharaeter  was  putting  a  verv 

w  re  all  the  ev.denee  on  the  point.     He  landed  without  our 

ov„  L;  n"  'T  "'^  ""''  """  ■-'  --o  became 
tat  or  °  t  ,  \  "f  "  '^  -"■'■°™.over  which  was  a  sur- 
mZuJ  i."  "'  "™'«i»g'j  bt^ugLt  by  Arnold 

thui  the  1  nes.  No  one  else  but  the  sentry  who  c^iallen-ed 
l»  "ppi-oacb  sooms  to  have  seen  him  from  the  time  of  Us 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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348  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDltfi. 

leavincr  the  boat  to  bis  arrival  at  Smitb's  house :  and  Arnold 
here  t^k  all  the  responsibility  of  reply.  Therefore  techni- 
cally  at  least  Andre  might  have  urged  that  in  so  full  uniform 
as  officers  generally  wear  by  night,  and  with  his  name  and 
quality  -fully  known  to  the  American  commander,  and  the 
only  American  officer  with  whom  he  had  thus  far  to  do,  he 
entered  our  lines.  Neither  does  it  seem  that  he  was  taken 
within  our  lines,  as  is  alleged  in  the  letter.  Tarrytown  was 
nearer  to  the  British  post  at  Kingsbridge  than  to  any  of 
ours.     The  remaining  statements  of  the  letter  are  exactly 

and  literally  true.* 

The  prisoner  was  now  called  to  listen  to  the  names  of  the 
officers  who  composed  the  board.  These  were  Major-Gene- 
rals  Greene,  Stirling,  St.  Clair,  La  Fayette,  Howe,  and  Steu- 
ben ;  Brigadiers  Parsons,  Clinton,  Knox,  Glover,  Patterson, 
Hand,  Huntington,  and  Starke.  Greene  was  president  ana 
John  Lawrence  the  Judge-advocate-general.  This  officers 
share  in  the  proceedings  was  limited  to  the  preparation  of 

♦  The  chief  authorities  for  the  Trial  are  the  Proceedings  of  the  Board  in 

the  original  manuscript,  and  also  as  published  hy  Congress ;  and  a  letter 

Lra  Hamilton  to  Sears.    The  first  was  sent  by  Washmgton  to  Congress, 

Ocri  1780,  with  a  view  to  publication:  and  in  pamphlet  form  was  imme- 

Se^  and  widely  diffused.    In  this  country  the  observation  appended  by 

CongLs!that  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case  show  that  the  proceedings 

"werrnot  guided  by  passion  or  resentment "  met  with  general  approva. 

In  England,  the  Gentleman's  Magazine,  by  no  means  a  '";°f «"«!  J«"T^' 

expressed  the  feelings  of  a  very  large  class  in  a  notice  of  the  publication 

"Te  above  account,  having  been  published  by  Congress,  it  may  withou 

any  very  violent  strain  of  probability  be  conjectured  that  they  thought 

Gen.  Washington's  severity  to  Andr6  stood  in  need  of  some  apology.  How 

for  the  Congrtss  account  justifies  Gen.  Washington's  conduct  towards  th 

brave  Andfd  the  public  will  judge  for  themselves.''    It  was  however  at 

Washincton's  own  desire  that  the  account  was  printed. 
HamLn  wrote  not  only  to  Sears,  but  to  Miss  Schuj^er  and  to  Laure    , 

and  the  details  he  gives  of  Andre's  deportment  during  the  trial  and  m  h^. 

confinement  are  very  interesting.    One  at  least  of  .f -^/f^-  «--;;; 

tended  for  a  demi-publicity.    La  Fayette  describes  it  as  ''^^^l'"^^^^  ^ 

literary-  talents  and  amiable  sensibility."     I  have  verified  the  Account  o 

given  by  Congress  by  comparison  with  the  original  MSS.  preserved  at 

Washin"'ton,  and  have  corrected  some  of  its  errors. 


ANDRfi'S  STATE1.ENT. 


:  and  Arnold 
jrefore  techni- 
;o  full  uniform 
his  name  and 
tider,  and  the 
3  far  to  do,  he 
he  was  taken 
Carrytown  was 
lan  to  any  of 
jr  are  exactly 

e  names  of  the 
B  Major-Gene- 
[owe,and  Steu- 
ver,  Patterson, 
president,  and 
This  officer's 
preparation  of 

igs  of  the  Board  in 
gress;  and  a  letter 
ngton  to  Congress, 
let  form  was  imme- 
ation,  appended  by 
lat  the  proceedings 
L  general  approval, 
ministerial  journal, 
of  the  publication. 
ess,  it  may  -without 

that  they  thought 
lome  apology.  How 
snduct  towards  tlie 

It  was  however  at 

:ler  and  to  Laurens, 
the  trial  and  in  his 
se  letters  seems  in- 
3  "  a  masterpiece  of 
fied  the  A^-count  as 
MSS.  preserved  at 


349 


His  age  was  a!K>ut  AndreTo™  anTT^  "f  r""'"^- 
evinced  hi,  sympathy  v,M  ,y,7'-     ^  '"'  "'"''«  """J""' 

presence  of  mind  •  to  }«■  -n^i  T  f  ^^id  'o  preserve  his 
and  ,0  except  My  to  ,T  ^1  """™"' ''"  '''^  ''"»''<»^! 
a,nbig„o„s     He  ±  s^ed  1  '7'™°'""/^  "«"  "e  .hough. 

I.ave1.s  forn.  falrlTa^d  t"y  t^  Gre""^  T  '}"'"' 
him  that  he  was  frpp  tn  ni  ^^*^^"*'  ^^^^  advised 


Andre's  statement. 
On  the  20th  of  September,  I  left  New  Ynrt  t       .      , 

on  hoa.  ™.St  nigt  0^;^^;:- B^r^ d" '^ 

vSe. "  rigro?.s:Kh-  ^-^  - 
r:^.?:::.ettitrerr^^^^^^^ 

_  — , — w»Ls  TTun  liim  to 


350 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


pi-ocecd  to  house,  and  in  the  way  passed  a  guard  I  did 

not  expect  to  see,  having  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  directions  not  " 
to  go  within  an  enemy's  post,  or  to  quit  my  own  dress.      ^ 

In  the  morning  A.  quitted  me,  having  himself  made  me 
put  the  papers  I  bore  between  my  stockings  and  feet.  Whilst 
he  did  it,  he  expressed  a  wish  that  in  case  of  any  accident 
befalling  me,  that  they  should  be  destroyed,  which  I  said,  of 
course  would  be  the  case,  as  when  I  went  into  the  boat  I 
should  have  them  tied  about  with  a  string  and  a  stone.  Be- 
fore we  parted,  some  mention  had  been  made  of  my  crossing 
the  river,  and  going  by  another  route ;  but,  I  objected  much 
against  it,  and  thought  it  was  settled  that  in  the  way  I 
came  I  was  also  to  return. 

Mr. to  my  great  mortification  persijsted  in  his  deter- 
mination of  carrying  me  by  the  other  route  ;  and,  at  the  de- 
cline of  the  sun,  I  set  out  on  horseback,  passed  King's  Ferry, 
and  came  to  Crompond,  wheve  a  party  of  militia  stopped  us 
and  advised  we  should  remain.     In  the  morning  I  came  with 

as  far  as  within  two  miles  and  a  half  of  Pine's  Bridge, 

where  he  said  he  must  part  with  me,  as  the  Cow-boys  infest- 
ed the  road  thenceforward.  I  was  now  near  thirty  miles 
from  Kingsbridge,  and  left  to  the  chance  of  passing  that 
space  undiscovered.  I  got  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Tarry- 
town,  which  was  far  beyond  the  points  described  as  danger- 
ous, when  I  was  taken  by  three  volunteers,  who,  not  satisfied 
with  my  pass,  rifled  me,  and,  finding  papers,  made  me  a 
prisoner. 

I  have  omitted  mentioning,  that,  when  I  found  myself 
within  an  enemy's  posts,  I  changed  my  dress. 

The  Proceedings  as  published  by  Congress,  being  rather 
a  manifesto  than  a  report  of  the  trial,  makes  no  mention  of 
this  Statement.  It  gives  however  what  is  doubtless  designed 
for  an  abstract  of  its  contents  and  of  his  oral  replies  to  inter- 
rogations.    The  italics  are  from  the  pamphlet. 

—  "That  he  came  on  shore  from  the  Vulture  sloop-of- 


9,  beiiiK  rather 


ritOCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COURT.  gjj 

alLre  T„  """"f™  "«»"""«!».     Tim.  .he  boat  ho  came  on 
shore    n  carried  no  flag,  and  .ha.  he  had  on  a  surtourl^ 

ue  «a3  taken.    That  he  met  Gen.  Arnold  on  the  shore  and 

^  left  the  V„r  "'t  ''""r  ""•'"=•     ""  "■-  -'O  "-'«•- 
ne  ictt  the  Vulture  sloop^f-war,  it  was  understood  that  h^ 

was  to  return  that  night ,  but  i.  was  then  doob  eTand  if  h! 
odd  not  return  he  «as  promised  to  be  c<,„«a/«^ "  «  „ 

letu.n  ,n  the  same  manner  !ie  came  on  shore ,  and  when  the 

qmnes  n  the  course  of  the  day,  how  he  should  return,  when 

iheZttraftt::."  "xr  ''-i  r  r  --'  ^^ 

.0  had  of  his  hein?:?,!  ll^^  ot"  I^^  ^r,  "^t 

challenged  by  the  sentry,  which  was  the  firft  ni.ht  he  ^^l 
a  shore.     He  also  said,  that  the  evening  C  the  2Td  of  Sen 

.ember  .ns.  he  passed  Kind's  Ferry,  Utween  our  luZ 
Sy  and  Verplanok-,  Points,  in  the  dress  he  is  at  JeZ  Z 
and  Mke  said  is  not  Us  regi„„„tah,  and  which'^drs  e 
procured  after  he  landed  from  the  Vul.ure,  and  when  he  was 
w,  hm  our  posts,  and  that  he  was  p,»ceedi„g  to  New-Y  J 

utwas  .aken  on  his  way,  at  Tarry.town,  °as  he  has  met' 
taed  ,„  h,s  letter,  on  Saturday  the  23d  o^  September  T„ 
about  nme  o'clock  in  the  mornin».'' 

The  six  papers  from  Arnold  being  produced,  he  acknowl- 
edged  they  were  found  in  his  boots:  the  pass  to  John  Ander- 
«a  was  a  ^  owned  and  the  fact  that  he  had  assumed  that 

!  ,^^  ■^""T'  '"""' '»  ^''*"  of  September  7th  (ante 
ge  262)  was  also  read.  He  avowed  himself  iu  author  X; 
l«ugh  :t  went  .0  prove  his  in.en.ion  not  to  enter  our  1  „e, 
l.e  observed  that  it  could  not  alfee.  .he  presen.  case  a  ho 
w™te  U  in  New  York  under  Clinton's  orders.  ' 
connir  ^"^/'^.'"'""S  interroga.ed  Major  Andre  about  his 
«cep.,on  of  h,s  coming  on  shore  under  .he  sanction  of  a 


..-eA'mW»JJiW'"n   i»*WJm<,WiiW| 


urn 


352  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRli. 

flag,  he  said,  That  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  suppose  he 
came  on  shore  under  that  sanction,  and  added,  That  if  ho, 
came  on  shore  under  that  sanction,  he  certainly  might  have 

returned  under  it. 

"Major  Andre  having  acknowledged  the  precedmg  facts, 
and  being  asked  wheth  r  he  had  anything  to  say  respecting 
Ihem,  answered,  He  left  them  to  operate  with  the  Board." 

It  was  probably  in  connection  with  this  point  of  a  flag  thnt 
Greene  asked  the  question :  —  "  When  you  came  on  shore 
from  the  Vulture,  Major  Andre,  and  met  General  Arnold, 
did  you  consider  yourself  acting  as  a  private  iudividual,  or  as 
a  British  officer ? "  "I  wore  my  uniform,"  was  the  reply, 
and  undoubtedly  esteemed  myself  to  be  what  indeed  I  was, 
a  British  officer."  It  will  be  recollected  that  it  was  not  as 
an  officer  he  was  acting  and  clad  when  he  was  arrested.* 

His  personal  examination  was  now  concluded,  and  the 
prisoner  being  remanded  into  custody,  the  board  considered 
Arnold's  and  Robinson's  letters  of  the  25th,  and  Chnton's 
(with  Arnold's  statement  enclosed)  of  the  26th  September  to 
Washington.     Of  their  contents  — or  indeed  of  their  exist- 
ence —  U  does  not  appear  that  Andre  was  apprised :  nor  was 
it  necessary  that  he  should  be.     No  other  testimony  was  pre- 
sented, nor  indeed  was  there  any  more  in  the  power  of  the 
board  to  adduce  save  that  of  Smith  and  the  boatmen.     The 
first  was  in  custody;  and  as  his  preliminary  examination  by 
Washington  was  in  the  presence  of  La  Fayette  and  Knox, 
who  were  of  the  board,  as  well  as  of  Hamilton  and  Harrison 
who  were  not,  they  knew  what  he  could  say  respecting  Andre's 
comin<r  ashore  from  the  Vulture.     By  their  evidence  after- 
wards^on  his  own  trial,  this  briefly  amounted  to  the  assevera- 
tion  that  he  went  to  the  Vulture  by  Arnold's  direction  with  a 
flag  which,  despite  the  darkness  of  the  night,  he  thought  a 
sufficient  protection  ;  that  he  brought  away  Andre  in  his  uni- 
form,  which  was  not  laid  aside  till  the  next  day ;  and  that  the 

*  I  have  this  auocdote  from  Ur.  Sparks,  who  received  it  from  La  Fay- 
ette himseU". 


\o  suppose  he 
1,  That  if  )ift 
y  might  have 

3ceding  facts, 
ay  respecting 
tie  Board." 
of  a  flag  that 
ime  on  shore 
ineral  Arnold, 
lividual,  or  as 
ras  the  reply, 
indeed  I  was, 
it  was  not  as 
arrested.* 
ided,  and  the 
ird  considered 
and  Clinton's 
September  to 
of  their  exist- 
rised :  nor  was 
mony  was  pre- 
!  power  of  the 
)oatmen.     The 
examination  by 
tte  and  Knox, 
1  and  Harrison 
jecting  Andre's 
evidence  after- 
0  the  assevera- 
lirection  with  a 
:,  he  thought  a 
ndre  in  his  uni- 
f ;  and  that  the 

a  it  from  La  Fay- 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COURT. 


353 

prisoner  came  to  land  under  the  assumed  name  of  Anderson 
The  boatmen  could  only  say  that  they  were  under  the  I 
pression  they  were  asked  beforehand  to  go  with  afla,    Vht 
testimony  is  not  of  much  importance,  though  it  shTws  fh 
iZrr  ^  at  that  day  considered  a  safe-conduct  a^a  ^ 

To  these  details  of  what  passed  before  and  in  the  board  bt.t 
a  passage  or  two  more  can  be  added.     It  is  recorded  thit  An 
cb.  was  profoundly  sensible  of  the  liberal  and  pote  b  h  ir" 

e  ^ff '  '""  ''^  ''^"^^'^"^  warnSy  avowed"! 
sense  of  their  generous  treatment.     « I  flatter  mvself "  hi 

said  when  the  examination  was  over  "that  J  Tf  ' 
bc-en  illiberal,  but  if  there  were  an7  rLalnfo  ^^^Z 
7  T^' ™^  P^^^^"^  experience  must  oblitemte  tLm  '  o" 
Uie  other  hand,  his  own  deportment  was  composedTncI  I. 
miied;  Ins  answers  open,  clear,  and  to  the  point,  and  fre^e 
from  al  argumentative  insinuation.     Their  frank    ngenuo^s' 

rf:n  thtte^b'  'J  ''T'^"'  ""''  '^''  ''^^  eonfern Ts 
witness.   His  only  reserve  was  in  regard  to  others;  in  all  that 
he  said,  he  avowed  his  carefulness  to  avoid  ever^thin"  1 
could  involve  any  one  else,  even  shunning  to  mentLn  n!mts 

house  -    I  said  a  house,  sir,  but  I  did  not  say  whose  house ' " 

xclaimed  Andrd.     "True,"  replied  Greene;  «nor  have  we 

any^nght  to  demand  this  of  you  after  the  conditions  we  have 

sllvZt  T"  "  "'""'"°  ^"  '^'  P"^"^*^^^  Proceedings  to 
show  that  the  prisoner  endeavored  to  prove  himself  not  a 

board.  Smiths  affirmation  that  he  did  may  be  passed  bv 
h.  comment  on  his  own  letter  to  Sheldon  and  the  tone  of  h's' 
written  statements  lead  to  the  belief  that  he  upheld  himself 

paient  guilt,  forced  into  that  category. 
When  all  the  evidence  before  them  was  put  i„  and  consid 


C 


m 


354  I.irE  OF  MAJOR  ANDBfi. 

cred,  Ihc  boara  proceeded  to  collect  its  voices.   La  Fayette  i, 
So  ity  for  pronouncing  the  decision  nnanimous ,  and  though 
slHleges  that  neither  Steuben  nor  Howe  approved  .t, 
'h::"  is  g.^  reason  to  believe  him  as  ---^ -™ 
other  places.     It  is  probable,  let  us  l'°P«'  «"".Il"  f  Y^"" 
himself  was  equally  astray  »hen  on  the  4th  of  July,  182^, 
■,t  his  mansion  in  Paris,  he  assured  the  son  of  an  officer  who 
L    beenll^euliarly  as'sociated  with  Andre's  closing  scenes, 
in  reference  to  the  action  of  the  board,  -  "  that  .t  was  a  pam- 
ful  duty,  in  consideration  of  the  gallantry  and  accompbsh- 
m  nts  i?  that  officer,  but  the  court  was  -Pf  <L™  -'/^^^^ 
the  rules  of  war  but  by  the  example  of  the  »"  '^  I'"™! 
Uelf  in  the  execution  of  Captain  Hale  on  Long  Island  for  a 
swL   offence,  to  pass  a  like  judgment."    This  "onstderat-on 
I  cannot  beUeve  at  all  influenced  the  dctermmat,on  of  tic 
boT  nor  will  I  willingly  admit  that  La  Fayette  inmself 
w™rned  by  it  in  giving  his  vote.     Their  enem.es  have 
ndled  said,  dou'btless  untruly,  that  ho  -d  Greene  bemg 
oersonally  hostile  to  Arnold  were  the  warmest  advocates  loi 
Zt2  Ldemnation:  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  h,s  compan- 
tens  were  not  all  as  prompt  as  himself  in  commg  to  a  conelu- 
r.     "some  of  th^American  generals  too."  he  wrote  to  h,s 
life,  "  lamented,  while  they  kept  twisting  the  rope  that  was  to 
Zl  him."    Bt^t  a  moment's  reflection  will  show  how  great  a 
w^n 'is  worked  to  the  character  of  our  leaders  by  he  .mpu- 
TaZ"  of  such  a  motive.     Hale  was  a  man  whose  dtspos.fon 
mZhose  fate  indeed  resembled  Andre's ;  but  >vhose  case  ,u 
Ts  characteristics  was  widely  dissimilar.       n  fulfilment  ol 
Washington's  desires  and  with  the  purest  mtent.ons  of  se.v- 
ing  hi    country,  he  premeditatedly  entered  'he  »""*  ^^» 
Zn  spy,  and  was  detected.    His  own  kinsman  betrayed  hm, 
Tnd  h!  was  arrested  while  yet  the  embers  smoudei-ed  of  tl 
git  to  of  the  21st  of  September,  177C.  and  m  the  he.gbt 
o   the  excitement  that  this  unjustifiable  conflagratton  oc^- 
Ined  amon»  the  British.     He  was  instantly  hanged  by 
orto  ofTr  William  Howe,  and  the  circumstances  of  h,s 


11  Fayette  is 
.  und  though 
approved  it, 
jt  here  as  in 
La  Fayette 
July,  1825, 

1  officer  who 
)sing  scenes, 
t  was  a  pain- 

accomplish- 
not  only  by 
British  army 
;  Island  for  a 
consideration 
nation  of  the 
yette  himself 
enemies  have 
Sreene  being 
advocates  for 
it  his  compan- 

2  to  a  conclu- 
le  wrote  to  his 
pe  that  was  to 
w  how  great  a 
i  by  the  impu- 
lse disposition 

whose  case  in 
fulfilnaent  of 
ntions  of  serv- 
e  British  lines 
betrayed  him, 
)uldered  of  the 
.  in  the  height 
lagration  occa- 
tly  hanged  by 
nstances  of  his 


ANDRft  SENTKNCEl)  TO  DKATH.  355 

execution  reflect  disgrace  upon  the  English  arm.      Um 

control;  and   who  but  recently  I..,  ^''''''  ^'"" 

edged  snv  to  W..^h      /  ,        ^     ""^  ^'''^"   "P  »"  acknowl- 
i^ugeu  spy  to  Washington's    n(ercessinn«      Ar.  j   • 

e^and  of  reWiation..    Had  .„e  fef^lit.  e^r^  Zll 
been  p,«c„,ed  for  a  principle  „f  „„„„„  ,„  „„;~V 
"■oold  undoubtedly  have  at  once  been  ,et  aside     Ti  ^  1 

Zh     ;  ..         ''"^'""^  "PP^--^^^  •»  '^-  ^oncludin.  part 
Tboal    '  report,  which  was  signed  by  every  .emberof 

''The  Board  having  considered  the  letter  from  his  ExppI 
lency  General  Washington  respecting  Major  Anre,!.^^^ 

^^^^l^1^:Z::;^:tT  r^-^^«--U  see  recorded 
tween  the  dates  o  I  ale's  1^.      ITJT  '^""  ''^^'  ^"''^'^  «P'««  be- 

"Sir:  Nathan  SeV  alt?  I'""-"^''*  ^'''^  '"  I^"t««'«'s  reply. - 

camp  as  al7,~lZlVi^TZ  "  ''"r  ^"^'^  ^^™'  ^-«  takea'rf  n.y 
you  n,ay  ref /'assure^si      aThe'^haH  ^  T"  "^'*^""^'  ^^  ^  •'^^' "  ^^ 

i'onor  to  be,  &e,  Israel  P^l    V  s    a^      "^'^,  "'•  '  ''''•    '  '''''"  "^« 
)        «ri  ^  wf^jam.    1 .  {5.  Aftenioon,  he  is  hanged." 


35  g  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfe. 

General  to  the  British  army,  the  Confession  of  M.yor  Andre, 
and  the  papers  produced  to  them,  Repoiit  to  II.s  Kxcellency 
the  Commander  in  Chief  the  following  facts  winch  appear  to 
them  concerning  Major  Andre.  ,     ,^  ,  ,  r 

"  First,  That  he  came  on  shore  from  the  Vulture  sloop  of 
war,  in  the  night  of  the  21st  of  September  inst.  on  an  inter- 
view  with  General  Arnold,  in  a  private  and  secret  manner. 

"  Secondh,  That  he  changed  his  dress  within  our  lines,  and 
under  a  feigned  name,  and  in  a  disguised  habit,  passed  our 
^orks  at  Stoney  and  Verplanh^s  Points  the  evemng  of  he 
22d  of  September  inst.  and  was  taken  the  morning  of  the 
23d  of  September  inst.  at  Tarry  Town,  in  a  disguised  haht 
being  then  on  his  way  to  New-York,  and,  when  taken,  he  had 
in  his  possession  several  papers,  which  contained  intelligence 

for  the  enemy.  •         ,    ,        /.    .     t-> 

»  The  Board  having  maturely  considered  these  facts,  Do 
Ai  so  Report  to  His  Excellency  General  Washmgton,  that 
Major  Andr(5,  Adjutant  General  to  the  British  Army,  ought 
to  be  considered  as  a  Spy  from  the  enemy  ;  and  that,  agree- 
able to  the  law  and  usage  of  nations,  it  is  their  opmion  he 
ought  to  suffer  death." 

The  day  was  probably  well  advanced  ere  this  report  was 
prepared.    On  the  next,  it  received  Washington's  sanction. 

Head  Quarters,  September  30th,  1780.- The  Comman- 
der  in  Chief  approves  of  the  opinion  of  the  Board  of  Gen- 
eral Officers,  respecting  Major  Andre,  and  orders  that  the 
execution  of  Major  Andr(J  take  place  to-morrow,  at  five 
o'clock,  P.  M. 


ijoi"  Andre, 
Excellency 
1  appear  to 

J  re  sloop  of 
on  an  inter- 
red manner. 
;r  lines,  and 
passed  our 
jning  of  the 
ning  of  the 
juised  habit, 
xken,  he  Imd 
[  intelligence 

se  facts,  Do 
liington,  that 
Army,  ought 
I  that,  agree- 
r  opinion  he 


is  report  was 
I's  sanction. 

'he  Comman- 
oard  of  Gen- 
ders that  the 
rrow,  at  five 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

AndrtS's  Deportment  after  the  Dfttth-Wnrnint       t„..       .     ^.. 
between  Washington  «„d  the  B     Lh      n^s"-^  I^  t      TT^  T' 
Arnold  for  Andrc^.  _  The  Execution  delnyed  subst.tut.ng 

Aa  yet  it  would  seem  that  an  answer  had  been  given 
ne.ther  to  Andre's  request  of  the  24th  September  for  per- 
mission  to  apply  for  necessary  apparel  and  linen  and  to 
forward  an  open  letter  to  Clinton,  nor  to  that  general's  com- 
mumcation  of  the  2Gth.  The  latter  delay  las  probabTy 
occastoned  by  a  wish  to  obtain  the  decision  of  the  Court  of 
Lnquiry  and,  perhaps,  to  ascertain  the  inclinations  of  Con- 
gress.    Greene  had  swiftly  transmitted  the  first  intelligence 

n    tl^fnl  '""^"''^.  ""^  ""  '^^  ^^^'•'  W««J»ngton's  Tetter 
of  the  26th  was  received  by  that  body.     Marbois  says  that 

the  Chief  privately  sought  its  desires  in  the  present  contin- 
gency,  and  that  although  there  was  no  public  debate,  it  was 
informally  determined  not  to  interfere  with  the  jud^^ment  of 
the  military  tribunal.  ju^oment  ot 

The  interest  and  even   attachment  which   tlie   prisoner's 
condition  and  character  had  already  inspired  in  the  feelin^rs 
of  many  of  our  officers  has  been  previously  noticed.     Amon^ 
those  whose  rank  more  nearly  approaching  his  own  rendered 
intercourse  less  restrained  and  embarrassing,  Hamilton  stood 
tirst.     He  was  then  but  about  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
and  his  grade  and  disposition,  and  his  relations  to  the  Amer- 
lean  leader,  were  not  unlike  those  that  Andrei  had  filled  in 
another  sphere.     In  laudable  ambition,  too,  and  in  natural 
g.tts  as  well  as  accomplishments,  there  was  much  in  common  • 
between  the  two ;  and  the  very  jests  that  one  had  offered  at 
the  others  expense  were  an  additional  incitement  to  personal 


;3ii8  LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANPnf:. 

kindnosses  that  should  wipe  away  the  inconsidc-rale  levity  of 
The  Cow-Chase.     From  the  moment  that  the  captive  wo8 
hrought  in,  there  was  a  constant  exercise  of  Hamilton's  rjkhI. 
omces.      On  a  former  occasion  his  friend,  Major  Wdliam 
Jackson,  had  received  much  civility  from  Andre;  and  to  hnn 
Hamilton   repaired.      "  Major  Jackson,"  he  said,  "  I  have 
learned  that  Andre  was  very  kind  to  you  when  you  were  a 
prisoner.     Will  you  not  now  visit  him  ?  "     The  su-est.on 
was  unnecessary,  for  no  man  was  better  endowed  than  Jack- 
Bon  with  those  kindly  feelings  which  not  less  than  the  sterner 
traits  characterize  an  accomplished  soldier;  but  the  story 
shows  the  zeal  with  which  Hamilton  in  befriending  Andre, 
while  he  sought  to  direct  indignation  against  Arnold  was 
careful  to  provoke  compassion  towards  his  unfortunate  co- 
adjutor.     Nor  is  it  strange  that  he  who  esteemed  Julms 
Caesar  as  the  greatest  of  humankind,  was  drawn  towards  a 
man  whose  character  also  exhibited  "  the  commanding  supe- 
riority of  soul,  the  generous  clemency,  and  the  various  genius 
which  could  reconcile  and  unite  the  love  of  pleasure,  the 
thirst  of  knowledge,  and  the  fire  of  ambition."     Such  we  are 
told  were  Cajsar's  qualities:  such  in  a  minor  scale  were  An- 
dre's.    Nor  was  Jackson's  a  solitary  case :  there  were  sev- 
eral in  our  army  who  had  in  confinement  received  substantial 
proof's  of  Andre's  goodness  :  and  these  were  not  now  want- 
inf  in  showing  him  civilities. 

During  the  brief  hours  of  life  that  remained,  Hamilton  was 
in  constant  intercourse  with  him  :  and  it  was  apparently  im- 
mediately on  his  being  withdrawn  from  the  presence  of  the 
board  that  he  endeavored  to  procure  through  the  influence 
of  his  friend,  what  he  had  himself  asked  for  some  days  be- 
fore.  His  doom  was  indeed  not  yet  pronounced,  but  he  must 
have  perceived  the  tendency  of  the  current  that  was  flowing 
so  strongly  towards  the  grave ;  and  in  the  very  tenderness  of 
his  treatment  by  those  in  whose  guard  he  slept  and  waked, 
he  could  not  but  have  recognized  the  impulse  to  make  his 
remaining  hours  as  easy  as  possible,  since  they  were  to  be  so 


ANi.Kf:s  mTouiMKNT  AiTKii  r,,,.;  .,f:,vrn-WAiiiiAt;r.  35a 
yory  C™  „,„|  f,.||  „f  i^Me.  llut  ,|,„  attacli-ncnt  bcvec,  Clin- 
ion  n,„l  umsdl  wa,  linn  ami  reciprocni.   Sir  Henry  avowd 

•en«=  l„  lament  1„,  faa-  and  hU  worlh ;  and  Andre  dnrin« 
I.M  "npr,.onment  »p„ke  of  hU  p„,m„  aa  a  clnld  migl.t  .peak 
ol  a  lender  fa, her..  Now,  wl,e„  the  pro,,«  of  death  w„, 
"."n,„e„,    ho  thought  of  „  possible  future 'pang  „,at  ntig 

of  tl.o  pettfon  which  on  his  own  seot.  .nerely,  Ids  wounde 

advert  to.    He  repeated  to  Hamilton  his  desire  to  write  to 
Ins  commander. 

J'  In  one  of  the  visits  I  made  to  him,  (and  I  saw  him  several 
t  mes  dunng  h.s  confmemenf,)  he  begged  me  to  be  the  bearer 

llLTT  It  '''"  f ""'"''  '''  ^^^™"«-'-^  '-  -"<J  «n  open 
etU.    to  S.r  Henry  Clinton.     '  I  foresee  my  fate,  (said  L,) 

and  though  I  pretend  not  to  play  the  hero,  or  to  be  indiffer- 

ent  about  hfe,  yet  I  am  reconciled  to  whatever  may  happen 

conscious  that  misfortune,  not  guilt,  will  have  brought  i:  upon 

S|!:h  r,''  '"V"'  ''""»  ''^"'  ^'^'"'-^^  "^y  tmnquil  Ity. 

a  ish  of  h.s  kmdness.     I  am  bound  to  him  by  too  many 
obhgat.ons,  and  love  him  too  well,  to  bear  the  thought  that 

e  should  reproach  himself,  or  that  others  should  leproach 

nm,  on  a  supposition  that  I  had  conceived  myself  bound  by 
ins  ,ns  ructions  to  run  the  risk  I  did.  I  would  not  for  the 
n^rld  leave  a  sting  that  should  embitter  his  future  days.' 
He  could  scarce  finish  the  sentence,  bursting  into  tears  i„ 
spite  of  his  efforts  to  suppress  them,  and  with  difHculty  col- 

*  Mr.  Cooper  says,  "It  is  certain  he  always  spolcc  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
he  Enghsh  commander-in-chief )  with  the  affection  and  c  nfZce  of  1 

J  rav.  JJach.y  221.    This  is  the  only  intimation  that  exists  of  his  recciv 
n^  any  letter  from  Sir  Henry  during  his  confinement:  and  I  do  not  b" 
b     one  word  of  that  part  of  the  anecdote.    It  is  probable,  if  Mr.  Cooler 
got  ,t  from  La  Fayette  (which  is  not  declared)  that  the  latte  was  forge  M 


360  LIFE    OF    MAJOR   ANDR£. 

lected  himself  enough  afterwards  to  add,  '  I  wish  to  be  per- 
mitted  to  assure  him  I  did  not  act  under  this  impression,  but 
submitted  to  a  necessity  imposed  upon  me,  as  contrary  to  my 
own  inclination  as  to  his  orders.'  "  ... 

Hamilton  found  little  difficulty  now  in  obtainmg  the  re- 
quired permission;  and  the  letter  was  at  once  written.    It 
must  have  been  sent  unsealed  to  head-quarters,  and  copied 
ere  it  left  our  camp:  its  contents  were  known  through  the 
army  before  the  author  was  hanged.     This  was  certainly  in 
ill-taste.     It  was  just  that  precautions  should  be  used  to  pre- 
vent communications  with  the  enemy  prejudicial  to  our  in- 
terests ;  but  worded  as  it  was,  the  Ir  iguage  of  the  document 
should  never  have  passed  the  walls  of  the  general's  marquee. 
It  was  enough  to  satisfy  justice  that  the  writer's  body  should 
swinrr  from  a  gibbet:  there  was  no  necessity  of  exposmg  to 
the  gloating  eye  of  all  the  world  the  secret  agonies  of  his 
soul. 

ANDRE    TO    CLINTON. 

Tappan,  29  September,  1780. 
Sir,  _  Your  Excellency  is  doubtless  already  apprized  of 
the  manner  in  which  I  was  taken,  and  possibly  of  the  serious 
light  in  which  my  conduct  is  considered,  and  the  rigorous 
determination  that  is  impending. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  have  obtained  (general 
Washincrton's  permission  to  send  you  this  letter;  the  object 
of  which  is,  to  remove  from  your  breast  any  suspicion  that 
I  could  imagine  I  was  bound  by  your  Excellency's  orders  to 
expose  myself  to  what  has  happened.  The  events  of  coming 
within  an  enemy's  posts,  and  of  changing  my  dress,  which 
led  me  to  my  present  situation,  were  contrary  to  my  own  in- 
tentions, as  they  were  to  your  orders;  and  the  circuitous 
route,  which  I  took  to  return,  was  impeded  (perhaps  unavoid- 
ably) without  alternative  upon  me. 

I  am  perfectly  tranquil  in  mind,  and  prepared  for  any 


ROBERTSON  TO  WASHINGTON.  SU 

warmth  of  my  heart,  I  gi,e  you  thanks  for  your  Excel 
lency,  profee  kindness  to  me,  and  I  send  you  the  ml 
earnest  „.shes  for  your  welfa,.,  which  a  faitS,  XcZl 
ate   and  respectful  attendant  can  frame. 
I  have  a  mother  and  three  sisters,  to  whom  the  value  of 

Zcnzjtir-itre-t'f '^'"^"'^-^^^^^^ 

,.  .^         .  .  income,     it  is  needless  to  be  more  py- 

phc-ton  th,s  subject;  lam  persuaded  of  your  E.cX.;:^^ 

J,  Z'T  "'"  ^'''""'"  ""'"*"  ''''°"'  '"'  Excellency  Gen- 
eral Waslungton,  and  from  every  person  under  whose  char™ 
I  happen  to  be  placed.    I  have  the  honour  to  be  TO,    L 
most  respectful  attachment.  Your  Excelleney's  mos  I  dicnt 
and  most  humble  servant,  ooeaient, 

H!,  F,    n         r,     '°™  ■*'""'^'  M'"lant-General. 
&c   L  ""'  General  Sir  Henry  CUnton,  K.  B.  &c 

On  the  same  d.^  General  Eobert^on  had  .-.ddressed  a  let- 
te.  to  our  camp,  reiterating  the  reclamation  of  Andre. 


nOBERTSON  TO    WASIIINOTON. 

^eu,  rork,  29  September,  1780. -S.R:  Persuaded  that 

jou  are  mchned  rather  to  promote  than  prevent  the  eivilWes 

and  acts  of  humanity,  which  the  rules  of  war  permit  b"w  e„ 

c.v.h.ednat,ons,Iflnd  no  difflcuUy  in  representing  ,o  you 

hat  several  letters  and  messages  sent  from  heneo  have  been 


pa.dfora„y     |     ricd  them  detained.    As  I  e;.  h:v:'T;:;era„  Trof 


3G2 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl!:. 


truce  with  civility  and  respect,  I  have  a  right  to  hope  that 
you  will  order  my  complaint  to  be  immediately  redressed. 

Major  Andre,  who  visited  an  officer  commanding  in  a 
dielrict,  at  his  own  desire,  and  acted  in  every  circumstance 
agreeably  to  his  direction,  I  find  is  detained  a  prisoner.  My 
friendship  for  him  leads  me  to  fear  he  may  suffer  some 
inconvenience  for  want  of  necessaries.  I  wish  to  be  allowed 
to  send  him  a  few,  and  shall  take  it  as  a  favor  if  you  will  be 
pleased  to  permit  his  servant  to  deliver  them.  In  Sir  Henry 
Clinton's  absence  it  becomes  a  part  of  my  duty  to  make  this 
representation  and  request.     I  am.  Sir,  &c. 

This  letter  must  have  arrived  early  on  the  30th,  and  with 
it  came  the  servant,  Peter  Laune,  bringing  the  much  wanted 
necessaries  of  the  toilet.  "Washington  with  his  aides  and 
some  guards  being  on  the  spot  when  the  flag  landed,  saw  the 
lussage  searched,  and  then  bade  a  soldier  conduct  the  man 
to  his  master ;  whom  he  found  "  confined  in  a  room,  but  not 
in  fetters,  under  a  strong  guard,  with  double  centinels,  and 
two  rebel  officers  in  the  room  on  duty."  The  returning  flag 
bore  back  this  reply :  — 


I 

■ 


WASHINGTON  TO  EOBERTSON. 

Tapparii  Sept.  30,  1780.  —  Sir  :  I  have  just  received 
your  letter  of  the  29  th  instant  Any  delay  which  may  have 
attended  your  flags,  has  proceeded  from  accident  and  the 
peculiar  circumstances  of  the  occasion  ;  not  from  intentional 
neglect  or  violation.  The  letter,  which  admitted  of  an  an- 
swer, has  received  one  as  early  as  it  could  be  given  with 
propriety,  transmitted  by  a  flag  this  morning.  As  to  mes- 
sages, I  am  uninformed  of  any  that  have  been  sent.  The 
necessaries  for  Major  Andre  will  be  delivered  to  him  agree- 
able to  your  request.     I  am.  Sir,  &c. 

Andre's  condition  was  not  yet  so  d(isperate  as  to  shut  out 


ht  to  hope  that 
ly  redressed, 
fnmanding  in  a 
ry  circumstance 
I  prisoner.  My 
ay  suffer  some 
sh  to  be  allowed 
r  if  you  will  be 
,  In  Sir  Henry 
uty  to  make  this 


3  30th,  and  with 
lie  much  wanted 
1  his  aides  and 

landed,  saw  the 
jonduct  the  man 

a  room,  but  not 
e  centinels,  and 
le  returning  flag 


'e  just  received 
which  may  have 
iccident  and  the 
from  intentional 
nitted  of  an  an- 
i  be  given  with 
ig.  As  to  raes- 
)een  sent.  The 
i  to  him  agree- 


te  as  to  shut  out 


ANDRE'S  CONDITION.  363 

every  hope  of  saving  him.     Mr.  Sparks  says  that  Washin- 
ton  was  very  anxious  to  do  so  :  but  a  victim  —  and  an  emi- 
nent one— was  demanded.      The  magnitude  of  the  affront 
called  for  a  commensurate  expiation,  and  there  was  but  one 
person  who  could  be  substituted  in   the   prisoner's  stead. 
Ihe  unanimous  approval   bestowed  by  the  army  and   the 
nation  on  Andre's  execution,  though  accompanied  with  un- 
repressed  regret  for  its  cruel  necessity,  arose  from  this  con- 
viction.    None  could  tell  where  the  treason  was  to  end  :  and 
though  as  it  turned  out  no  others  were  involved,  yet  at  the 
moment,  so  far  from  being  assured  upon  that  point,  the  army's 
confidence  was  shaken  in  various  quarters,  and  Washinc^ton 
himself  is  s(;en  privately  investigating  the  suspicions  that  point- 
ed to  the  uppermost  grades  of  the  Court  of  Inquiry  itself.  The 
only  security  was  to  act  promptly  and  with  such  decision  as 
should  effectually  deter  others  from  a  like  offence.     We  all 
recollect  Robinson  Crusoe's  dealings  with  the  birds  in  his 
cornfield.     He  might  drive  them  away  as  often  as  he  would ; 
but  no  sooner  was  his  back  turned  than  their  plundering  was' 
resumed:  "I  could  easily  see  the  thieves  sitting  upon  all  the 
trees  about  me,  as  if  they  only  waited  till  I  wng  gone  away, 
and  the  event  proved  it  to  be  so."     But  when  he  hung  a  few 
of  the  marauders  in  chains  and  left  them  danglincr^m  ter- 
rorem,  it  so  disgusted  their  surviving  comrades  that  ever 
after  they  shunned  the  spot  in  holy  horror.     So  it  was  now 
with  our  troops,  who  feared  that  the  next  attempt  at  seduction 
or  betrayal  would  terminate  less  fortunately.     But  there  is 
no  question  that  Arnold's  death  would  have  been  more  grate- 
ful than  Andre's  ;  though  as  Laurens  justly  suggested,  «  ex- 
ample will  derive  new  force  from  his  conspicuous  character." 
Hamilton,  soon  after  the  latter's  execution,  summed  up  the 
dilemma  :     « There  was  in   truth  no  way  of  saving  him. 
Arnold  or  he  must  have  been  the  victim  ;  the  former  was 
out  of  our  power." 

There  were  two  ways  of  getting  possession  of  Arnold ;  by 
fieizure,  or  by  exchange.     Both  were  tried,  but  the  last  only 


364 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


made  any  progress  during  Andre's  life.  It  was  sought  to 
induce  him  to  apply  in  hie  own  name  to  Clinton  for  the  ex- 
change. A  gentleman,  surmising  that  Arnold  had  been  pre- 
pared from  the  first  to  sacrifice  Andre  to  his  own  security, 
and  that  on  this  score  Sir  Henry  might  be  willing  to  give 
him  up,  opened  the  matter  to  the  condemned  man,  who  de- 
clined the  expedient.  Tradition  has  named  Hamilton  as 
having  made  the  overture.  "  If  Arnold  could  —  "  he  began. 
"  Stop,"  peremptorii\  interposed  the  captive  :  "such  a  propo- 
sition can  never  come  from  me  !  "  *  But  Hamilton  himself, 
on  the  very  day  of  the  execution,  has  thus  addressed  his 
betrothed :  — 

"  It  was  proposed  to  me  to  suggest  to  him  the  idea  of  an 
exchange  for  Arnold  ;  but  I  knew  I  should  have  forfeited 
his  esteem  by  doing  it,  and  therefore  declined  it.  As  a  man 
of  honor,  he  could  not  but  reject  it;  and  I  would  not  for  the 
world  have  proposed  to  him  a  thing  which  must  have  placed 
me  in  the  unamiable  light  of  supposing  him  capable  of  a 
meanness,  or  of  not  feeling  myself  the  impropriety  of  the 
measure.  I  confess  to  you,  I  had  the  weakness  to  value  the 
esteem  of  a  dying  man,  because  I  reverenced  his  merit." 

The  idea  was  nevertheless  cherished  at  head-quarters. 
Greene,  it  will  be  seen,  suggested  it  to  Robertson ;  and 
Washington  without  committing  himself  ostensibly  to  the 
proposal,  indirectly  brought  it  before  Clinton.  Simcoe  de- 
clares that  among  the  letters  between  the  generals,  a  paper 
was  slipped  in  unsigned,  but  in  Hamilton's  writing,  saying 
'•  that  the  only  way  to  save  Andre  was  to  give  up  Arnold." 
The  occasion  of  this  must  have  been  when  "Washington  wrote 
to  Clinton,  on  the  30th  September,  enclosing  Andre's  open 
letter  of  the  29th. 


AVASIIINGTON   TO    CLINTON. 

J/ead- Quarters,   Sept.  30,  1780.  —  Siii :    In   answer  to 
*  Cooper,  apparently  ex  rcl.  La  Fayette.     Tmv.  Bach.  i.  221. 


'H' 


\ 


\ 


WASIIINOTONS  BELPY  TO  CI.INTOS.  3C5 

your  Excellenc/8  letler  of  the  26th  insmm,  nhid,  I  |,„d  „,„ 

taken  under  such  cncumstances  as  would  have  justified  the  ■ 
ever  Z°r7\  '"■°'"'*"'*  "«'''"^'  '■'"■•     ^  <'««™ined  hot 
li<«.rd  of  General  Officers,  who  have  repcrted,  on  his  free 
and  voluntary  confession  and  letters:—  ™'  »"  »«  •■'ee 

„ar*il'^!'i."""'','T'"'"  ^''»™.f'-»"'  the  Vulture  sloop-of- 

<a.,    n  the  n.ght  of  the  21st  of  September  instant   on  an 

...terve.  ,vith  General  Arnold,  in  a  private  a:d1:::;t  In" 

-nd"  tTr'^'"^""',""  """"=""  '"^  *''»  "•'">'■"»-  «"-; 
or  work      "  S'="'''  "T'  T'  '"  "  '"•'-"'"■'«»  '""'"'  P'^'^-l 

lifh       ^^P'""'^^'-  ■"»'«»'.  »'  Tarrytown,  in  a  dis-ulsed 

bU  bemg  hen  on  his  way  to  New  York  ;  and,  when  Taten, 

l-e  had  in   Ins  possession  several  papers,  which  contained 

mtelhgcnce  for  the  enemy."  contained 

From  these  proceedings  it  is  evident,  that  Major  Andini  was 

mployed  .„  the  execution  of  measures  very  foreign  ^  Z 
objects  of  feg,,  „f  „„,,_  ^„j  ^^^,,  ^  J         .    ^0    h 

0  anthonze  or  countenance  in  the  most  distant  degreeTand 
ll.«  gentleman  confessed,  with  the  greatest  candor,  1,^  "he 
course  of  h,s  examination,  "  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 

uppose  that  he  came  on  shore  under  the  sanction  of  a  fit  ° 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.»  °' 

linnrri  i.„  •       ^"  "''"O  t-iinton.    It  was  m  tlie  following  words- _'Tha 

agreeably  Shetwan^nrr^"'  ^  '"^^ '■™'"  ">^  ^"^•»>''  -"^  that, 
suffer  deatr-'tlTy^^""*'""''^'*  ''  "'^'^  «P'"'«»  '>«  «"ght  to 

A-?.r  utioat        i^fe  rV  ^^nt;^  ^  '  T^  ^^  '"^"^^ 

\Va«Jiinfrfn„  ;.,       1        ^""s'^^^*'-     I-       !'""  last  work  printed  the  letter  of 

a  Jungton  ,a  such  a  manner  as  to  le...  ,    the  inference  that  the  omiion 


3GG 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


Captain  Aaron  Ogden  of  New  Jersey  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  soldiers  of  his  grade  in  our  ranks.  He  was  of 
good  birth,  unblemished  integrity,  and  approved  courage; 
and  had  been  pierced  by  a  bayonet  in  one  of  the  character- 
istic night-marches  of  Andre's  first  patron,  General  Grey. 
Though  his  kinsman  of  the  same  name  had  followed  Arnold 
to  the  gates  of  Quebec,  it  is  probable  that  this  gentleman 
held  him  in  no  great  liking,  since  Maxwell,  his  own  former 
leader,  perfectly  hated  him.  Ogden  had  now  a  company  in 
La  Fayette's  Light  Infiintry  division  ;  a  corps  cTelite,  picked 
from  the  whole  army. 

On  the  evening  of  the  29th,  when  the  Board  had  finished 
its  deliberations,  Ogden  was  commanded  to  wait  upon  Wash- 
ington the  next  day  at  eight  a.  m.  precisely.  The  chief 
alone  met  him  at  the  door,  and  privately  gave  him  his  orders. 
He  was  to  select  twenty-five  choice  dragoons,  reliable  men 
and  of  good  appearance,  and  procuring  for  himself  the  best 
horse  he  could  find,  to  carry  a  flag  and  deliver  a  packet 
for  Clinton  to  the  commander  of  the  nearest  British  post. 
Further,  before  departing  he  was  to  call  for  additional  in- 
structions on  La  Fayette,  who  lay  with  his  brigade  in 
advance  of  the  main  army  and  nearer  to  New  York. 
The  orders  he  received  from  La  Fayette  were  that  he 
"  should  if  possible  get  within  the  British  post  at  Powles 
Hook,  and  continue  there  during  the  night;  and  that  he 
should  privately  assure  the  commanding  oflftcer  there,  without 
taking  him  aside  for  the  purpose,  that  he.  Captain  Ogden, 
was  instructed  to  say  that  if  Sir  Henry  Clinton  would  in  any 
way  suffer  Washington  to  get  General  Arnold  within  his 
power,  that  Major  Andre  should  be  immediately  released." 
Ogden  therefore  so  contrived  his  march,  that  it  was  the 
evening  of  the  30th  when  he  came  to  the  British  outpost. 


of  the  concluding  paragraph  was  intentional :  and  indeed,  if  Clinton  could 
have  at  all  been  brought  to  surrender  Arnold,  it  was  desirable  that  lie 
should  be  afforded  a  pretence  of  ignorance  that  he  was  remanding  him  to 
the  gallows. 


OGDEN  SENT  WITH  DESPATCHES  TO  W.IXTON.    3C7 

He  was  told  that  he  might  remain  while  his  despatch  »aa 
..nt  .„  ;  but  he  replied  that  he  had  peremptoiy  diL  ionlto 
g  ve  H  up  ,0  no  one  but  the  offieer  eon,L„di„g  the  1, 
The  cu-eunjs.„nces  of  the  case -for  it  must  have  been  ev 
dent  that  h,s  papers  had  some  connection  „i.h  Andre  11 
provoked  a  suspension  of  the  usual  customs,  and  he  was  per- 
muted  to  pass  m  and  deliver  them  as  he  was  bidden.  He 
was  rcecved  with  great  politeness  and,  the  evenin.  now 
being  advanced,  was  offered  quarters  for  the  night.    NoZ 

dufes  untU  supper  was  served,  when,  in  courtesy  to  a 
stranger,  he  was  sealed  by  the  commandant.  In  the  course 
of  conversation  he  was  asked  of  Andre's  probable  fate  and 
promptly  answered  that  he  would  be  hung  Was  he^  no 
means,  exc la.med  the  Englishman,  of  savfng  him?  The^ 
was  cerlamly  a  means,  whispered  Ogden  in  reply:  let  Ar! 
no  d  be  surrendered,  and  he  was  prepared  to  say,  though 
w.th  no  formal  assurance  from  Washington  to  the  effect,  that 
Andre  would  be  yielded  up.  The  officer  at  once  carried  tlZ 
.mportant  communication  ,o  his  Gener.1.    On  his  return  he 

'ZS't,      "  ""'^  '"''''  """  ""^  ^"''""^  ^'■o-M  have  el 
pected.    The  suggested  course  was  totally  inadmissible,  and 

Chnton  would  not  even  consider  it.    At  daybreak  every  hing 

was  prepared  for  Ogdcn-s  departure,  and  it  was  not  tm  th"! 

n.ome„t  ,ha.  he  found  out  that  his  chosen  sergeant  had  de 

serted    0  the  enemy.    This  evasion  however  w^s  perfumed 

.n  obedience  to  Washington's  own  and  secret  armngem^'s 

concealed  for  the  time  fi-om  Ogden  himself,  and  directd  S 

a  v.ew  to  procure  a  sure,  and  unsuspected  spy  in  the  British 

mj;- moTio!"'  ""  ""'''"°'"'  ""'"'""""  "''^^'""^^  "nd  Ws 

Meanwhile,  intelligence  of  the  finding  of  the  court  and  of 

i>  fate  were  communicated  to  Andre  through  two  officers 

.om  Greene,  one  of  whom  w..s  his  aide.  Major  Burnet.    The 

™.ence  was  listened  to  with  a  composure  that  his  inform.'^! 

vandy  strove  to  emulate.     The  prisoner  had  steeled  himsdf 


3G8 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRH:. 


i!      il 


to  encounter  death :  "  I  nvow  no  guilt,"  he  said,  "  but  I  am 
resigned  to  my  fate."  Yet  he  shrunk  from  the  idea  of  the  hal- 
ter. "  Since  it  was  his  lot  to  die,"  he  said,  "  there  was  still  a 
choice  in  the  mode  which  would  make  a  material  difference 
to  his  feelings ;  and  he  would  be  happy,  if  possible,  to  be  in- 
dulged with  a  professional  death  " ;  and  he  seems  to  have  at 
once  verbally  petitioned,  probably  through  Hamilton,  that 
Washington  would  consent  to  his  being  shot.  Probably  an- 
ticipating no  refusal  to  this  request,  he  retained  for  some  time 
a  tranquillity  of  spirit  approaching  even  to  cheerfulness.  The 
arrival  of  his  servant  had  enabled  him  to  discard  the  slovenly 
raiment  that  had  previously  embarrassed  him,  and  he  was 
now  as  neat  and  comely  in  his  appearance  as  though  he  were 
doing  duty  before  his  sovereign  at  Windsor  Castle  instead  of 
languishing  in  a  condemned  cell.  Still  looking  for  his  exe- 
cution on  the  day  originally  assigned,  he  busied  himself  in 
farewell  communications  to  his  friends.  To  Captain  Crosbie 
he  wrote  that  "  the  manner  in  which  he  was  to  die  had  at 
first  given  him  some  slight  uneasiness,  but  he  instantly  recol- 
lected that  it  was  the  crime  alone  that  made  any  mode  of 
punishment  ignominious,  and  that  he  could  not  think  an  at- 
tempt to  put  an  end  to  a  civil  war,  and  to  stop  the  effusion  of 
human  blood,  a  crime.  —  He  should  therefore  meet  death 
with  the  spirit  becoming  a  British  officer,  and  neither  dis- 
grace his  friends  nor  his  country."  These  letters  he  con- 
fided to  his  servant,  to  be  delivered  when  he  returned  to  New 
York. 

In  fact,  every  authority  testifies  to  the  composure  and  dig- 
nity preserved  by  this  unfortunate  man  while  he  was  in  our 
hands.  "  All  of  the  court  that  inquired  into  his  case,"  says 
La  Fayette,  "  were  filled  with  sentiments  of  admiration  and 
compassion  for  him."  "  He  behaved  with  so  much  frankness, 
courage,  and  delicacy,  that  I  could  not  help  lamenting  his  un- 
happy fate,"  continues  the  marquis.  "  It  is  impossible  to  ex- 
press too  much  respect  or  too  deep  regret  for  Major  Andre." 
Heath  wrote  that  his  behavior  "  was  becoming  an  officer  and 


liJ,  "  but  I  am 
idea  of  the  hal- 
lere  was  still  a 
jrial  difference 
jsible,  to  be  in- 
ems  to  have  at 
Hamilton,  that 

Probably  an- 
1  for  some  time 
2rfulne33.  The 
ird  the  slovenly 
n,  and  he  was 
though  he  were 
astle  instead  of 
ng  for  his  exe- 
sied  himself  in 
]!aptain  Crosbie 

to  die  had  at 
instantly  recol- 
3  any  mode  of 
lot  think  an  at- 
the  effusion  of 
re  meet  death 
nd  neither  dis- 
letters  he  con- 
eturned  to  New 

posure  and  dig- 
e  he  was  in  our 
his  case,"  says 
admiration  and 
nuch  frankness, 
menting  his  un- 
n possible  to  ex- 
Major  Andre." 
S  an  officer  and 


ORDER  OF  EXECUTION.  ggg 

a  gentleman,  and  such  in  his  li^t  mnr««  ♦ 

halter  put  round  his  neck  nn,i  iu  .  u     ,  ^  allusion  a 

l.e  be  tukon  the  otter   fd  oflhl,  ?f  "'  "^-^  "'"■»-'  ''• 

.0  .he  ga..„„,.^  TIi^tJ;t^<thrf^■"f''^ 

•lays  of  intimate  iniererurs^  I  ToT"!^  ■ .        '"""  "■«  '^^ 

l.«n,  I  became  so  deeply  attached  to  M^"r  aL  "  TT^ 

could  remember  no  instance  where  mv«ff;!,i  '     ."'  ^ 

absorbed  bv  anv  mnn      w,       r   ^  '"•^""ons  v.'ere  so  fully 

gibbet,  it  seem'ed  IT  a  til  ler,?-  ""^  ^'™=  "»<>-  '"e 
overwhelmed  with  he  affecin!  ^^"?"''''~'"""^-'  ""  "-» 
-ny  were  suffused  wthtr°  iCdS  T,  "'°  ""^  "' 
one  hardened  or  indifferentl  ^^  T  ""'  "PP'""'  '"  '^ 
assembled  -on  It  s  j^r  octstn^f  'ktV'\T''''"'"' 
T/ashington  himself,  bear  witaSHL  Z  tf'  """""""' 
'I'o  last  breath  of  lif^  was  1117?/ ...  ^'^  °""''™'  "> 

gallant  officer.    The  Z  l„n  led  '\f  T""''"'  "'™  ""'' 
vere  one:  for  neilhL  hi  7^  .    '  "'""■'"='«'•  '"^  «  ««- 

American  officer  a  h^  sMe^  ""  'l'''"  ™^  '">  ""'«""'  »" 

po.orb„yifr;eit^t\ritt:ri^^^^^^^^^^     ■ 

p-.wouid\rt„tCtrdct:::dir-::fc 
JXTnLtrrira:j'o?"r  -■  ^^ 

with  this  paragraph :  _  °"''' '""'  <=»"d"dc<I 

abllfL'^rf  ;'li"'°'™?'""'^  "'°  <=--"-  of  ".e 
o'clock,  prechely"  "'  ™^'  '"'^  ""^™''°"'  »'  ^ve 

coll  toThr-""'  """  """  '""="'«»"«»  ™  "0'  lon«  in 

hourtamDlt  W  ,•  "^  Regarded.  It  was  believed 
pauti  2  ,h,t  I"'?  ""  ''i'»«lf-«»  not  disinclined  to 
gaut  .t,but  that  the  advice  of  his  generals  deterred  him. 


^ 

s 


370 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  Al^DR^. 


Greene,  it  was  said,  was  clear  that  Andro  was  a  spy  and  should 
die  the  death  of  a  spy  :  that  were  he  not  hanged,  the  notion 
that  there  were  grounds  for  this  extent  of  leniency  would 
be  twisted  into  a  belief  that  his  death  was  entirely  uncalled 
for.  The  public  good,  ho  thought,  required  the  use  of  the  rope. 
And  Greene's  biographer  and  kinsman  seems  to  believe  that 
this  general  was  positive  on  the  point,  though  «'  it  was  with 
a  trembling  hand  and  eyes  dimmed  with  tears  that  he  signed 
the  fatal  decree."  Burnet  declares  that  Washington  was 
convinced  he  could  not  consistently  with  the  customs  of  war 
alter  the  manner  of  death  "  without  subjecting  himself  to  the 
charge  of  instability  or  want  of  nerve."  But  Andrd  resolved 
on  a  direct  appeal ;  and  we  gather  from  Hamilton's  language 
but  a  brief  moment  before  the  fatal  hour  that  it  did  not  fail 
for  lack  of  his  mediation  with  Washington  :  — 

"  Poor  Andre  suffers  to-day ;  —  everything  that  is  amiable 
in  virtue,  in  fortitude,  in  delicate  sentiment,  and  accomplished 
manners,  pleads  for  him ;  but  hard-hearted  policy  calls  for  a 

sacrifice.     He  must  die .     I  send  you  my  account  of 

Arnold's  affair ;  and  to  justify  myself  to  your  sentiments,  I 
must  inform  you,  that  I  urged  a  compliance  with  Andre's  re- 
quest to  be  shot,  and  I  do  not  think  it  would  have  had  an  ill 
effect ;  but  some  people  are  only  sensible  to  motives  of  poli- 
cy, and,  sometimes,  from  a  narrow  disposition,  mistake  it. 

"  When  Andre's  tale  comes  to  be  told,  and  present  resent- 
ment is  over,  —  the  refusing  him  the  privilege  of  choosing 
(he  manner  of  his  death  will  be  branded  with  too  much  ob- 
stinacy." 

On  the  morning  of  October  1st,  Andre  amused  himself  with 
some  last  reminiscences  of  that  art  whose  pleasant  exercise 
had  so  constantly  attended  his  life.  A  pen-and-ink  likeness 
of  himself,  drawn  on  this  occasion  without  the  aid  of  a  mir- 
ror, was  sketched  by  him  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Tomlinson, 
an  officer  of  the  attendant  guard,  to  whom  he  gave  it  as  a 
memorial.  It  is  still  preserved  in  the  Trumbull  gallery  at 
Yale  College.     He  was  wont  to  make  such  portraits  for  his 


I  spy  and  should 
iged,  the  notion 
leniency  would 
ntirely  uncalled 
use  of  the  rope. 
I  to  believe  that 
li  "it  was  with 
3  that  he  signed 
Washington  was 
customs  of  war 
Z  himself  to  the 
Andre  resolved 
lilton's  language 
t  it  did  not  fail 

;  that  is  amiable 
id  accomplished 
)olicy  calls  for  a 
my  account  of 
ur  sentiments,  I 
ivith  Andre's  re- 
have  had  an  ill 
motives  of  poli- 
,  mistake  it. 
present  resent- 
lege  of  choosing 
h  too  much  ob- 

sed  himself  with 
ileasant  exercise 
and-ink  likeness 
le  aid  of  a  mir- 
Mr.  Tomlinson, 
le  gave  it  as  a 
nbull  gallery  at 
portraits  for  his 


THE  EXECUTION  DELAYED.  37  , 

.~  serene,^ 

T,,r  1  ^™  "*"  ''""'  y°'"^^f  """-e  manly." 

g-e  dug,  and  the  XprnWde/.  ^^^17  T""'' '"" 
crowded  .„  .he  '^PPoi.J  .j!' -^^^^LtTtZ' 
of  the  Massachusetts  Line,  was  in  waLg  at  And"  •  side  It 
on,mandant  of  the  guanl  appointed  to  eseorl  him  to  the  IT 
lows.  He  describes  the  prisoner's  manners  on  tlis  trvtai" 
hTr  "  ';=  "^  P'""'""'  ""■»  ''"  '»»versati„„  „   „  I^l"  ° 

.fCitTor-rrsrdt^-t^^^^^^ 

fac'cd'all  the  p    ils   :S  Th     '"'"• ""  '""■••   ^"P"""  ^mi.h 
contest  -and  h„       K  ■ ,    ,  '"""'"™'  "f  O"  evolutionary 

tumiort  m  tne  ensumf  vear-?  hi.f  i.^  „  ,    . 

1  .  .  °  ./*^'"*> —  out  he  ever  avowed  thnt  *i,« 

«.ntmor„,ng,  but  for  some  reason  the  pos.ponemem  ofthe 


872 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


exocution  docs  not  nppcnr  to  have  been  announced  until  lute 
in  tlie  afternoon.     Clinton's  letter  was  as  follows  : 


CLINTON   TO    WASHINGTON. 

New  York,  Sept.  30,  1780.  — Sm:  From  your  Excel- 
lency's  letter  of  this  date,  I  am  persuaded  the  Board  of 
General  Oflicers,  to  whom  you  referred  the  case  of  Major 
Andre,  can't  have  been  rightly  informed  of  all  the  circum- 
stances on  which  a  judgment  ought  to  be  formed.  I  think 
it  of  the  highest  moment  to  humanity,  that  your  Excellency 
should  be  perfectly  apprized  of  the  state  of  the  matter,  be- 
fore you  proceed  to  put  that  judgment  in  execution. 

For  this  reason,  I  shall  send  his  Excellency  Lieutenant- 
General  Robertson,  and  two  other  gentlemen,  to  give  you  a 
true  state  of  facts,  and  to  declare  to  you  my  sentiments  and 
resolutions.  They  will  set  out  to-morrow  as  early  as  the 
wind  and  tide  will  permit,  and  will  wait  near  Dobb's  Ferry 
for  your  permission  and  safe-conduct,  to  meet  your  Excel- 
lency, or  such  persons  as  you  may  appoint,  to  converse  with 
them  on  the  subject.     T  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

r.  S.  The  Honorable  Andrew  Elliot,  Esq.,  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor, and  the  Honorable  William  Smith,  Esq., 
Chief-Justice  of  this  Province,  will  attend  his  Excellency 
Lieutenant-General  Robertson. 


need  until  lata 


I  your  Excel- 
the  Board  ot* 
case  of  Major 
iUl  the  circura- 
rmed.  I  think 
)ur  Excellency 
the  matter,  be- 
:ution. 

icy  Lieutenant- 
I,  to  give  you  a 
sentiments  and 
IS  early  as  the 
r  Dobb's  Ferry 
et  your  Excel- 
>  converse  with 
,  &c. 

Esq.,  Lieuten- 
1  Smith,  Esq., 
his  Excellency 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Expedient,  of  the  HrlUsh  to  procuroA^^^^^^^ 

Correspondence  in  the  Case. 

.h/w  7"'  "?"  ""'  ""'>'  '"P'"'"'"''  f™™  New  York  by 
h.  Hudson,  and  ,vas  ntoost  opposite  Clinlon's  head-nuarteL 

l>.e  papers  brouglu  by  Ogden  wore  therefore  not  C7„ 

com,„g  to  his  band,  and  be  at  onee  snmmonedMrlmi  b 
.0  king's  eluef-justiceof  New  York,  Mr.  John  Tabor  ktZe 

he.  attorney-general,  and  other  eivib-ans,  to  meet  in  JX 

slanees  of  tl  e  ease  and  submitted  Washington's  letter   Sir 

could  hang  Andre  as  a  spy.    The  ehief-justice  said  that  a 
reference  to  the  authorities  on  the  question  led  him  to  belt" 

B„T£m„e"°"  ""'•  '"  ""'  "••""™  ""=  "'"eerTelne:  :: 

But  Kempe  preserv.ng  a  silence,  one  of  them  put  the  same 

query  to  h,m.    Without  going  into  the  law  of  the  matter  be 

urtly  answered,  "  I  think  they  will  bang  him.»    The  q  e,  ! 

TrL  ^''°  ^f ""»"  ""^'^'J  "  by  the  eouneil,  however, 
e'ei  o    "'"".f™^-":-  .'"'-''  -"><1  "«'  have  been  pos! 

proceed  fo.  hwuh  to  our  Imes,  armed  with  satisfactory  proofs 
of  Andre's  mnoeenee:  and  that  Washington  should  be  not 
fled  by  return  of  his  own  flag  of  the  coming  envoys. 

nut  hiZif"'  ^"^f"  ™Pri»"n,ent  was  known,  Simcoe  had 
put  hunself  in  readmess  to  recapture  him ,  and  begged  of  Clin- 

.t  itlr"  ?"!  "T"'  °'  """  """"^  ■>''  regiment7i,ould  have 

wt::„llt!:!^.™"""^^p"■!--'o"•■' perhaps 


be  sent  on  to  Congress,  his  scouts  viirilantl 


y  watchnd  the  route 


! 


374 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR^. 


between  our  camp  and  Philadelphia,  to  give  timely  warning 
of  any  chance  to  fall  on  the  escort.  Henry  Lee  and  himself, 
being  particular  enemies  on  public  grounds,  were  very  good 
friends  in  private  ;  and  he  lost  no  time  in  asking  an  interview 
with  our  partisan  leader,  of  which  the  real  object  was  to 
speak  about  Andre.  Lee  replied  on  the  2nd  October,  writ- 
ing perhaps  under  the  impression  that  prevailed  in  La  Fay- 
ette's camp  of  the  success  of  Ogden's  negotiation  for  Clinton's 
consent  to  the  surrender  of  Arnold:  "  I  am  happy  in  telling 
you  that  there  is  a  probability  of  Major  Andre's  being  re- 
stored to  his  country,  and  the  customs  of  war  being  fully  sat- 
isfied." But  before  the  letter  was  sealed  Lee  had  better 
intelligence,  and  he  concludes  in  this  wise  :  —  "  ?*ice  writing 
the  foregoing,  I  find  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  offers  have  not 
come  up  to  what  was  expected,  and  that  this  hour  is  fixed  for 
the  execution  of  the  sentence.  How  cold  the  friendship  of 
those  high  in  power  !  "* 

It  would  indeed  have  been  the  extreme  of  baseness  in  Clin- 
ton, under  all  the  circumstances,  to  have  given  Arnold  up  in 
exchange  for  Andre  ;  and  though  the  full  details  of  what  had 
gone  before  could  not  have  been  known  in  our  camp,  it  is 

*  Sitncoe  comments  that  no  offers  were  made  by  Clinton.  In  this  he  h 
right;  for  the  proffered  exchanges  of  American  prisoner':  for  Andrd  were  not 
such  offers  as  Lee  meant.  Simcoe  was,  either  for  book-learning  about  liis 
profession  or  conduct  on  the  field,  one  of  the  best  soldiers  of  his  day:  and 
the  extreme  language  he  uses  in  his  reply  to  Lee  must  therefore  have  in- 
terest, as  showing  the  reeling  of  the  enemy  in  regard  to  the  execution :  — 
"  I  am  at  a  loss  to  express  myself  on  the  latter  paragraphs  of  your  letter; 
I  have  long  accustomed  myself  to  be  silent,  or  to  speak  the  language  of  the 
heart.  The  useless  murder  of  Major  Andrei,  would  almost,  was  it  possible, 
annihilate  the  wish  which,  consentaneous  to  the  ideas  of  onr  sovereign  and 
the  government  of  Great  Britain,  has  ever  operated  on  the  officers  of  the 
British  army,  the  Avlsh  of  a  reconciliation  with  their  revolted  fellow  subjects 
in  America.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  has  the  warmest  feelings  for  those  under 
his  command,  and  was  ready  to  liave  granted  for  Major  Andre's  exchange, 
whatever  ought  to  have  been  asked.  Though  every  desire  I  had  formed 
to  think,  in  some  instances,  favourably  of  those  who  could  urge  or  of  him 
who  could  permit  the  murder  of  this  most  virtuous  and  accomplished  gen- 
tleman, be  now  totally  eradicated;  I  must  still  subscribe  myself  with  great 
personal  respect,  sir,  your  most  obedient  and  obliged  servai  t,  J.  G.  Sim- 
coe." —  Simcoe' s  Mil.  Jour.  '293. 


timely  warning 
ec  and  himself, 
were  very  good 
ig  an  interview 
'.  object  was  to 
I  October,  writ- 
led  in  La  Fay- 
3n  for  Clinton's 
iippy  in  telling 
dre's  being  re- 
bei'ig  fully  sat- 
iCe  had  better 
"  I? 'nee  writing 
offers  have  not 
our  is  fixed  for 
B  friendship  of 

seness  in  Clin- 
n  Arnold  up  iu 
ils  of  what  had 
)ur  camp,  it  is 

ton.  In  this  he  is 
m  Andrd  were  not 
earning  about  his 
rs  of  his  day :  and 
therefore  have  in- 
the  execution :  — 
phs  of  your  letter; 
le  language  of  tlio 
St,  was  it  possible, 
our  sovereign  and 
the  officers  of  the 
ted  fellow  subjects 
;s  for  those  under 
Indrc's  exchange, 
;ire  I  had  formed 
lid  urge  or  of  him 
iccomplished  gcn- 
myself  with  great 

jrvaic,  J.  G.  Sim- 


efforts  FOR  -ANDRE'S  LIBERATION.  375 

evident  that  there  was  sufficient  cause  to  prevent  the  proposal 
being  made  to  him  in  other  than  a  covert  manner.     That  it 
should  be  unhesitatingly  refused  is  not  to  be  wondered  at. 
^ut    here  is  some  reason  to  suppose  that  in  this  juncture 
Arnold  may  himself  have  made  an  overture  perfectly  in 
keepmgwith  his  reckless  intrepidity  of  character.     In  the 
bogmnang  of  1782,  he  was  assailed  at  London  with  a  public 
charge  of  having  basely  left  Andre  to  die  that  his  own  life 
might  be  saved.     On  this  a  British  olncer,  who  appears  to 
have  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  military  men  of  the  highest 
socml  rank,  came  forward  with  a  statement  for  the  truth  of 
which  he  appealed  to  the  gentlemen  who  were  in  the  fall  of 
1780  members  of  Clinton's  family.    He  declared  that  he  was 
with  the  English  army  when  Andre  was  captured  and  Arnold 
came  in ;  that  it  was  currently  reported  and  believed  in  the 
mes  that  Arnold  himself  proposed  to  Sir  Henry  that  he  might- 
be  permuted  to  go  out  and  surrender  himself,  in  exchange  for 
Andre  ;  and  that  the  reply  was-"  Your  proposal,  sirrdoes 
you  great  honour ;  but  if  Andre  was  my  own  brother,  I  could 
not  agree  to  it.»     This  anecdote  is  not  devoid  of  support 
from  what  we  know  of  the  man's  nature;  and  it  is  cerLn 
that  both  to  himself  and  the  world,  his  certain  death  under 
circumstances  such  as  these  would  have  worn  a  very  different 
aspect  from  that  which  would  have  followed  a  discovery  and 
arrest  ere  his  flight  was  made  good.* 

Whether  simply  in  decent  respect  to  Clinton's  communi- 
cation of  September  30th,  or,  as  Lee  intimates,  in  hope  that 
lie  might  consent  to  yield  Arnold,  Andre's  execution  had  been 
respited  until  noon  of  October  2nd.  This  postponement  was 
bus  entered  m  the  orderly  book  of  a  Connecticut  regiment 
on  the  1st :  -  ^^^.emn^  Orders.  Major  Andre  is  to  be  exe- 
cuted  tomorrow,  at  twelve  o'clock  precisely.  A  battalion  of 
eighty  files  from  each  wing  to  attend  the  execution.  Four- 
een  general  ofiicers  of  the  most  honorable  and  unimpeacha- 
ble character  constituted  the  court  martial,"  etc.f 


If  HP 


See  Appendix,  No.  I. 


t  Here  follow  their  names. 


376 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl!:. 


li' 


Leaving  New  York  betimes,  the  Greyhound  flag-of-truee 
schooner  had  a  speedy  passage  to  Dobb's  Ferry,  within  four 
miles  of  Tappaan,  bringing  with  her  the  deputation  before 
named,  and  Beverly  Robinson  who  it  was  supposed  would  be 
admitted  to  give  a  statement  of  the  manner  in  which  Andre 
went  ashore.  This  fact  goes  to  discredit  the  stories  that  pre- 
vail and  have  already  been  referred  to  of  Robinson's  distrust 
of  the  security  under  which  his  companion  left  the  Vulture. 
The  character  of  the  gentlemen  whom  he  now  accompanied 
was  proportionate  to  the  importance  of  their  mission.  Smith, 
the  brother  of  Andre's  guide,  was  of  high  legal  attainments, 
and  passed  from  the  chief-justiceship  of  New  York  under  the 
crown  to  that  of  Canada.  His  historical  writings  are  valua- 
ble. Eliot  was  "  a  tall,  thin,  Scots  gentleman  with  a  pimply 
face,"  father-in-law  of  Andre's  friend  Cathcart,  and  lonjr 
known  and,  respected  both  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York, 
in  which  last  city  he  said  in  1774  that  he  had  for  ten  years 
as  Collector  of  Customs  lived  happily  among  the  inhabitants 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  superiors.  His  wife  was  of  one 
of  the  chief  Philadelphia  families,  and  he  had  borne  the  cir- 
cumstance in  mind  when  chance  gave  an  opportunity  of  be- 
friending an  American  prisoner  from  her  own  town.  But  the 
strength  of  the  embassy  lay  in  Robertson,  whose  persuasive 
powers  were  so  well  known  that  the  tories  loudly  declared  he 
would,  had  he  been  allowed  an  interview,  indubitably  have 
put  the  affair  in  such  a  way  to  Washington  as  to  compel  at 
least  a  reconsideration  of  Andre's  case.  He  was  a  canny 
Scot  from  the  kingdom  of  Fife ;  by  nationality  sagacious  and 
brave,  and  by  education  skilled  in  the  nature  of  his  kind.  If 
we  may  believe  tradition,  he  wrought  with  other  silver  than 
what  lay  on  his  tongue  ;  and  when  his  eloquence  failed  was 
as  ready  to  conquer  with  gold  as  with  steel.  Bred  to  arms, 
the  peace  of  17G3  found  him  resident  at  New  York  with  his 
regiment :  and  when  the  revolution  broke  out  he  was  not 
only  perfectly  familiar  with  the  general  character  of  the  peo- 
ple of  New  York  and  New  England,  but  was  on  terms  of 


und  flag-of-truce 
rry,  within  four 
3putation  before 
)  posed  would  be 
in  which  Andre 
stories  that  pre- 
binson's  distrust 
eft  the  Vulture. 
DW  accompanied 
oission.  Smith, 
gal  attainments, 
York  under  the 
Itings  are  valua- 
n  with  a  pimply 
heart,  and  long 
and  New  Yoi'k, 
d  for  ten  years 
the  inhabitants 
wife  was  of  one 
d  borne  the  cir- 
)portunity  of  be- 
town.  But  the 
hose  persuasive 
idly  declared  he 
ndubitably  have 
as  to  compel  at 
'e  was  a  canny 
;y  sagacious  and 
of  his  kind.  If 
>ther  silver  than 
ence  failed  was 
Bred  to  arms, 
V  York  with  his 
Dut  he  was  not 
cter  of  the  pco- 
is  on  terms  of 


CLINTON'S  DELEGATION.  377 

continent.     He  was  shut  up  in  1775  in  Boston,  as  appears 
by  h.  letter  of  July  20th  to  Captain  Montague,  thankTn" 

gratitude.      Later,  he  was  commandant  under  Howe  at  New 
much\rlrr'"°.'"  '''''^°"  *"  England,  returned  in  1780 

einor  of  the  province  and  general  third  in  rank  of  the  king's 
forces  on  the  continent.     "  He  is  an  arch-fiend,"  wrote  Gate 
at  this  time  to  Reed,  "and  knows  how  to  make  usetf  Tvery 
knave  in  his  government,  and  you  and  I  know  and  believe 

nr„;rnThe"u  '"^  W^^  '''''-'  ^"  ''^'  governmeti: 
m  any  m  the  Union.     Whigs,  take  care  !  "     He  had  set  on 

foot  secret  intelligences  with  men  of  good  standing  in  our 

army  and  in  New  England  very  soon  after  he  hid  bee„ 

worn   in  0  his  civil  office  on  the  22nd  March,  by  ^Ws 

sick-bedside;  and  while  large  parts  of  the  heavy  mportadon 

of  specie  that  England  made  into  New  York'^^n  thtepocl 

were  constantly  sent  out  of  the  lines,  he  is  charged  by  the 

e^rtroftr^'r^''^'"^^""^"'^^  ^  device'that'ook 
English  gumea  or  Portuguese  moidore  was  suffered,  says  he 
t.  pass  the  British  lines,  till  it  was  duly  clipped  or  sweated 
Ihus  depreciated,  it  was  more  acceptable   to  our  peopt 

nsof'rr  rr  ""'"'^'  "''^''  '""^  ^'-    -^ha-ted 
soTnshnv^;!  .'°        ""'  '"''  ''  ^""'  Wearance  at  first,  but 

diminished  pieces  were  Known  as  Robertsons.     Divided  into 

apt  name  o(  shyshnned  money,  found  ready  circulation. 

JZaTXl^'''  '^'  ^'^'^^'''  ^^^"''^  "^^  ^'^^  Washing, 
fon,  and  that  Robertson  alone  should  come  ashore.   Eliot  and 

le^f  T  7^7^  L^«^--«  -s  not  named  in  Clinton's 

etter     Accordingly  Greene,  not  in  an  official  capacity  but 

as  a  private  gentleman,  was  deputed  to  receive  the  English 


t 


. 


378 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR6. 


lieutenant-general.  Their  conversation  endured  through  the 
afternoon  to  near  nightfall :  and  Robertson  thus  describes  it 
to  his  superior. 

ROBERTSON   TO    CLINTON. 

Off' Dobb's  Ferry,  1st  October,  1780.  —  Sir:  On  coming 
to  anchor  here,  I  sent  Murray  on  shore,  who  soon  returned 
with  notice  that  General  Green  was  ready  to  meet  me,  but 
would  not  admit  a  conference  with  the  other  gentlemen. 

I  paid  my  compliments  to  his  character,  and  expressed  the 
satisfaction  I  had  in  treating  with  him  on  the  cause  of  my 
friend,  the  two  armies,  and  humanity.  He  said,  he  could 
not  treat  with  me  as  an  officer ;  that  Mr.  Washington  had 
permitted  him  to  meet  me  as  a  gentleman,  but  the  case  of  an 
acknowledged  spy  admitted  no  official  discussion.  I  said 
that  a  knowledge  of  facts  was  necessary  to  direct  a  General's 
judgment ;  that  in  whatever  character  I  was  called,  I  hoped 
he  would  represent  what  I  said  candidly  to  Mr.  Washington. 

I  laid  before  him  the  facts,  and  Arnold's  assertions  of  Mr. 
Andre's  being  under  a  flag  of  truce,  and  disguised  by  his 
order.  He  showed  me  a  low-spirited  letter  of  Andre's,  say- 
ing that  he  had  not  landed  under  a  flag  of  truce,  and  lament- 
ing his  being  taken  in  a  mean  disguise.  He  expresses  this 
in  language  that  admits  it  to  be  criminal.  I  told  him  that 
Andr^  stated  facts  with  truth,  but  reasoned  ill  upon  them; 
that  whether  a  flag  was  flying  or  not,  was  of  no  moment. 
He  landed  and  acted  as  directed  by  their  General.  He  said 
they  would  believe  Andre  in  preference  to  .Arnold.  This 
argument  held  long.  I  told  him  you  had  ever  shown  a 
merciful  disposition,  and  an  attention  to  Mr.  Washington's 
requests ;  that  in  the  instance  of  my  namesake,  you  had 
given  up  a  man  evidently  a  spy,  when  he  signified  his  wish;* 

»  Here  Robertson  could  take  strong  ground  ;  for  "Washington  himself 
liad  so  late  as  the  26th  July,  1780,  in  writing  to  Clinton,  expressly  compli- 
mented the  enemy's  general  upon  the  kindness  with  which  he  had  treated 
his  American  prisoners.  This  fact  by  the  way  ought  in  itself  to  discredit 
the  idea  that  our  leaders  felt  a  necessity  of  retaliating  Hale's  execution. 


•ed  through  the 
lus  describes  it 


[R :  On  coming 
soon  returned 
J  meet  me,  but 
gentlemen, 
d  expressed  the 
le  cause  of  my 
said,  he  could 
Washington  had 
t  the  case  of  an 
ussion.     I  said 
•ect  a  General's 
called,  I  hoped 
Ir.  Washington, 
ssertions  of  Mr. 
isguised  by  his 
of  Andre's,  say- 
ice,  and  lament- 
e  expresses  this 
I  told  him  that 
ill  upon  them; 
of  no  moment, 
neral.     He  said 
.Arnold.     Tliis 
ever  shown  a 
r.  Washington's 
esake,  you  had 
ified  his  wish;* 

Washington  himself 
I,  expressly  compli- 
ich  he  had  treated 
a  itself  to  discredit 
[ale's  execution. 


nOBEKTSON'S  EEI'OKT  TO  CLINTON.  379 

that  I  courted  an  intercourse  and  a  return  nV  „.   1     m 

or  Mr  W.Z:''"''  °"  "J"''.''-"  "»"  "  G'-een  had  a  friend, 
01  ivir.  Washington  was  des  rous  of  thp  iv.l^n^^     e 

if  he  would  let  me  cany  home  And'.  I  T.f  ""^  ■"""' 
send  such  a  man  out     li  ^"1  ,y         '     """'*'  '"^"8"=  •» 

^n!e,      T  .„!j  ,  ^  """■"  ""s  "<>  "-ealing  about 

spies.     Isold  no  mihtarv  rasm'cf  :«  1?  ..    o  """"^ 

urc  a  spy  and  would  suffer  death  myself,  if  Monsieur 
Eochambault,  or  General  Knyphausen  won?  1  "  „,.""";'" 
-hat  name.  I  added,  that  I  depe'nd:d  u^rGeneT  Grln^ 
ondour  and  humanity  ,0  put  the  faets  I  had    tated  nnd  ,h. 

ion   tliat  1  would  stay  on  board  all  night,  and  hoped  to  can  v 
Mr.  Andre,  or  at  least  Mr.  Washington's  word  for  hi   sX 
along  with  me  the  next  morning.  ^' 

Green  now  with  a  blush,  timt  showed  the  task  wn,  ;,„ 
I|ose.^  and  did  not  proceed  from  his  own  .1  ou't  oW  mj 
at    he  army  must  be  satisfied  by  seeing  spi'es  elecutrd 
But  there  was  one  thing   ,I,at  would  satisfy  them       ^ 

This  I  answered  with  a  look  only,  which  threw  Or    rinto 

Beyond  what  is  here  staled,  Robertson  is  ,ii,l  ,„  l,„  „ 
.ntimated  that  under  the  circumstances  any  1  aSf  ti-  .tmlm 
to  Andre  would  be  retaliated  on  persons  in  C  YoT^d 
m  Charleston,  where  \rf  Po,i^i  i  ^'««vv  xoik  and 

ffni«hed  Drisonrnf  ''"^  '^^"'^^  other  distin- 

*et.  The  ^2:  ":;i^ri::f  rsr 


■I 


illil 


380 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


agrees  with  Robertson's  account  so  far  as  it  goes  ;  grounding 
the  proposed  reference  to  Rochambenu  and  Knyphausen  on 
the  plea  of  their  impartiality  as  strangers.  He  says  also  that 
Greene  took  the  position  that  the  finding  of  the  court  was 
not  to  be  opened,  and  that  Robertson's  suggestion  of  an  ap- 
peal to  Congress  was  inadmissible.  He  concludes  with  an 
extravagant  anecdote  of  Greene's  reading  in  contemptuous 
silence  the  open  letter  of  Arnold  that  was  handed  to  him, 
and  casting  it  at  Robertson's  feet  when  with  no  other  word 
he  broke  up  the  interview.* 

Greene  promised  to  repeat  to  "Washington  as  well  as  he 
could  bear  it  in  mind,  what  Robertson  had  said :  and  the 
latter  returned  to  his  friends  on  the  Greyhound  well  satisfied 
that  things  were  now  in  a  prosperous  train.  They  anxiously 
waited  a  reply  till  the  following  morning,  when  this  note 
was  delivered. 


GREENE    TO    KOBERTSON. 

Camp,   Tappa7i,  2    October,   1780. —  Sir:  Agreeably  to 

*  It  is  barely  possible  that  there  may  be  some  groundwork  of  truth  in 
this  anecdote,  and  that  an  aversion  to  Greene  and  a  reluctance  to  shorten 
the  continement  of  tlie  President  of  Congress,  hence  grew  up  in  Cornwal- 
lis's  mind.  A  note  in  his  Correspondence  (i.  75),  characterizes  Greene  as 
"  coarse  in  his  manners  and  harsh  in  his  conduct":  and  I  have  before  me 
a  curious  MS.  letter  from  a  loyalist  of  high  character  written  at  London, 
Feb.  6, 1782,  which  says:  —  *'  Lord  Comwallis  has  not  yet  appear'd  either 
in  the  House  or  at  Court;  it  is  confidently  reported  that  a  proposal  which 
was  made  to  him  at  the  time  of  his  capture,  and  which  he  rejected  with  the 
sullen  dignity  of  a  British  peer,  will  now  be  accepted  at  the  instance  of  tho 
ministr}';  and  that  an  exchange  between  him  and  Laurens  will  take  place. 
The  latter  is  returned  from  Bath,  and  tho'  not  yet  able  to  use  his  limbs  is 
much  visited  and  caressed  by  the  minority.  It  is  added  that,  after  the  ex- 
change effected,  his  Lordship  will  be  sent  to  replace  the  discountenanced 
and  disgraced  Sir  Harry.  If  so,  Mr.  Galloway  has  been  writing  to  very 
little  purpose,  and  I  am  afraid  the  friends  to  government  out  of  tb3  lines 
will  not  rejoice.  But  the  people  of  England,  caught  by  brilliant  actions 
and  too  indolent  for  close  reflection,  arc  so  prepossessed  in  favor  of  Lord 
Comwallis,  that  it  will  not  be  an  easy  task  to  convince  them  of  his  in- 
capacity or  disafTection." 


COllBESPONDENCl!  CONCERNING  ANDEfc  38J 

your  request  I  eommunicated  to  General  Washington  the 
s  bstance  of  your  conversation  in  all  the  particulaCo  far 
aa  my  memory  served  me.  It  made  no  alteration  i^  l7u 
op,n.o„  and  determination.  I  need  say  no  more,  after  „te 
you^have  already  been  informed,     i  have  the  h^no^t 

•These  tidings,  after  his  previous  conclusions,  must  have 

t^:hi:gr;ri;.""^^^'-"-''»^'>"''«^''-^ 

KOBERTSON   TO    WASHINGTON. 

tober,  1780.  _Sm:  A  note  I  had  from  General  Greene 
leaves  me  m  doubt  if  his  memory  had  served  him  to  relate 
oyou  „uh  exactness  the  substance  of  the  conversation  Vl«^ 

Andre.  In  an  aiTan-  of  so  much  consequence  to  my  friend 
the  two  a„a,es,  and  humanity,  I  would  leave  no  possib  lUy 
of  a  m,sunderst.-,ndiug,  and  therefore  take  the  liberty  to  pu^ 
m  wn.ng  the  substance  of  what  I  said  to  General  G^ne 

I  offered  to  prove,  by  the  evidence  of  Colonel  eTwuL 
and  the  officers  of  the  Vulture,  that  Major  AndL  we,^  "" 
shore  at  General  Arnold's  desi,.,  in  a  boat  sent  for  hTm  tiu" 
a  flag  of  truce,  that  he  not  only  came  ashore  with  the  Uol 

Uhe'dH^fH'  °r'r'™"'*"=  S-«»"vho  commanded 

by  tiie  d,reet,on  of  General  Arnold,  as  will  appear  by  the 
enclosed  letter  from  him  to  your  Excellency.  Under  tee 
crcumstances   I  c»uld  not,  and  hoped  you  would  norcon 

i:t.^Tou  '^' '' " ''" '"'  ^"^  -■'"^*''^"  ""-^  '-™^ 

The  facts  he  relates  correspond  with  the  evidence  I  offer 
but  he  adm,ts  a  conclusion  that  does  not  follow.  The  change 
of  clothes  and  name  was  ordered  by  General  Arnold,  under 


382 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR6. 


i 


whose  directions  he  necessarily  was,  while  within  his  com- 
mand. As  General  Greene  and  I  did  not  agree  in  opinion, 
I  wished  that  disinterested  gentlemen  of  knowledge  of  the 
law  of  war  and  of  nations  might  be  asked  their  opinion  on 
the  subject,  and  mentioned  Monsieur  Knyphausen  and  Gen- 
eral Sochambeau. 

I  related  that  a  Captain  Robinson  had  been  delivered  to 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  as  a  spy,  and  undoubtedly  was  such  ;  bTit 
that,  it  being  signified  to  him  that  you  were  desirous  that  the 
man  should  be  exchanged,  he  had  ordered  him  to  be  ex- 
changed. I  wished  that  an  intercourse  of  such  civilities  as 
the  rules  of  war  admit  of,  might  take  off  many  of  its  horrors. 
I  admitted  that  Major  Andre  had  a  great  share  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton's  esteem,  and  that  he  would  be  infinitely  obliged  by 
his  liberation ;  and  that  if  he  was  permitted  to  return  with 
me,  I  would  engage  you  would  have  any  person  you  would 
be  pleased  (o  name  set  at  liberty.  I  added,  that  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  had  never  put  any  person  to  death  for  a  breach  of 
the  rules  of  war,  though  he  had,  and  now  has,  many  in  his 
power.  Under  the  present  circumstances,  much  good  may 
arise  from  humanity,  much  ill  from  the  want  of  it.  If  that 
could  give  any  weight,  I  beg  leave  to  add  that  your  favor- 
able treatment  of  Major  Andre  will  be  a  favor  I  should  ever 
be  intent  to  return  to  any  you  hold  dear. 

My  memory  does  not  retain  with  the  exactness  I  could 
wish  the  words  of  the  letter,  which  General  Greene  showed 
me,  from  Major  Andre  to  your  Excellency.  For  Sir  Henry 
Clinton's  satisfaction,  I  1 


you 


copy  of  it  to  be 


sent  to  me  at  New  York.     I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 


Robertson  had  brought  two  letters  from  Arnold  to  Wash- 
ington ;  one  was  ^  resignation  of  his  commission  ;  the  other 
was  enclosed  in  the  communication  just  printed,  and  was  as 
follows :  — 


CORRESPONDENCE  CONCERNING  ANDRfi. 


383 


ithin  Iiis  coni- 
ec  in  opinion, 
wledge  of  the 
eir^  opinion  on 
sen  and  Gen- 

i  delivered  to 
ivas  such  ;  but 
iirous  that  the 
ira  to  be  ex- 
ih  civilities  as 
of  its  horrors, 
of  Sir  Henry 
iiy  obliged  by 

0  return  with 
on  you  would 
lat  Sir  Henry 
•r  a  breach  of 
,  many  in  his 
ch  good  may 
)f  it.  If  that 
It  your  favor- 

1  should  ever 

tness  I  could 
ceene  showed 
or  Sir  Henry 
py  of  it  (o  be 
be,  «&;c. 

lold  to  Wash- 
)n ;  the  other 
1,  and  was  as 


ARNOLD    TO    WASHINGTON. 

M^oTork,  1  October,  1780. -Sm:  The  polite  attention 
^.own  by  your  Excellency  and  the  gentlemen  of  your  fam^; 
to  Mrs  Arnold,  when  in  distress,  demand  my  grateful 
acknowledgment  and  thanks,  which  I  beg  leave  t'o  present. 

^lom  your  Excellency's  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  I 

that  Major  Andre  comes  under  the  description  of  a  spy 
My  good  opmion  of  the  candor  and  justice  of  those  gentle- 
men  leads  me  to  believe  that,  if  they  had  been  mad!  Mly 
acquamted  with  every  circumstance  respecting  Major  AndrJ 
they  would  by  no  means  have  considered  him  in  the  li^ht  Ji' 
a  spy,  or  even  of  a  prisoner.  In  justice  to  him,  I  think  it 
my  duty  to  declare  that  he  came  from  on  board  the  Vulture 
at  my  particular  request,  by  a  flag  sent  on  purpose  for  him 
by  Joshua  Smith,  Esq.,  who  had  permission  to  go  to  DobiS 
Kiry  to  carry  letters,  and  for  other  purposes,  and  to  return, 
rhis  was  done  as  a  blind  to  the  spy-boats.     Mr.  Smith  at 

VultuT  'Th        ™^  T""''  '"'^^^^"^  ''  g«  «"  ^--d  the 
Vulture,  and  bring  on  shore  Colonel  Robinson,  or  Mr.  John 

Anderson,  which  was  the  name  I  had  requested  Major  An- 

dre  to  assume.     At  the  same  time  I  desired  Mr.  Smith  to 

mform  him  that  he  should  have  my  protection,  and  a  safe 

passport  to  return  in  the  same  boat  as  soon  as  our  business 

was  completed.     As  several  accidents  intervened  to  preven 

h,s  being  sent  on  board,  I  gave  him  my  passport  to  reL-n  by 

land.     Major  Andre  came  on  shore  in  his  uniform  (without 

disguise),  which,  with  much  reluctance,  at  my  particular  and 

pressing  instance,  he  exchanged  for  another  coat.   I  furnished 

hn.  wuh  a  horse  and  saddle,  and  pointed  out  the  routlby 

ena  t^!  Tt  f  T'""'     "^"'^  '"^^  commanding  officer  in  the 
department  I  had  an  undoubted  right  to  transact  all  these 

tr^r^rthl"  ^^^^"°"'  '''^-  ^"^^^  -^^^^  'y  -  -- 

But  if,  after  this  just  and  candid  representation  of  Major 


384 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDIlfi. 


Andre's  case,  the  board  of  general  officers  adhere  to  their 
former  opinion,  I  shall  suppose  it  dictated  by  passion  and 
resentment ;  and  if  that  gentleman  should  suffer  the  severity 
of  their  sentence,  I  shall  think  myself  bound  by  every  tie  of 
duty  and  honor  to  retaliate  on  such  unliappy  persons  of  your 
army  as  may  fall  within  my  power,  that  the  respect  due  to 
flags,  and  to  the  laws  of  nations,  may  be  better  understood 
and  preserved. 

I  have  further  to  observe  that  forty  of  the  principal  in- 
habitants of  South  Carolina  have  justly  forfeited  their  lives, 
which  hiive  hitherto  been  spared  by  the  clemency  of  his  Ex- 
cellency Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who  cannot  in  justice  extend  his 
mercy  to  them  any  longer,  if  Major  Andre  suffers,  which,  in 
all  probability,  will  open  a  scene  of  blood  at  which  humanity 
will  revolt. 

Suffer;  me  then  to  entreat  your  Excellency,  for  your  own 
and  the  honor  of  humanity,  and  the  love  you  have  of  justice, 
that  you  suffer  not  an  unjust  sentence  to  touch  the  life  of 
Major  Andre.  But  if  this  warning  should  be  disregarded,  I 
call  Heaven  and  earth  to  witness  that  your  Excellency  will 
be  justly  answerable  for  the  torrent  of  blood  that  may  be 
spilt  in  consequence.     I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

It  was  proper  enough  that  Arnold  should  state  the  cir- 
cumstances under  which  Andre  had  come  and  gone  —  for 
indeed  who  other  could  have  recounted  all  of  them  —  but 
beyond  that  he  had  no  right  to  go.  His  threats  of  retaliation 
were  simply  impertinent  to  both  Clinton  and  Washington, 
and  well  fitted  to  provoke  the  indignation  of  our  people. 
But  I  have  no  doubt  that  Washington,  if  he  received  the  let- 
ter in  time,  gave  due  consideration  to  the  facts  it  contained, 
albeit  there  was  little  in  the  way  they  were  put  that  could 
alleviate  his  anger.  He  was  not  the  man  to  punish  Andrd 
for  Arnold's  "  consummate  effrontery."  But  it  is  probable 
that  Andre  was  hanged  before  the  communication  came  to 
Washington's  hand:  for  Robertson,  we  are  told,  when  he 


ndlicre  to  their 
by  passion  and 
iffer  the  severity 
by  every  tie  of 
persons  of  your 
s  respect  due  to 
etter  understood 

he  principal  in- 
'eited  their  lives, 
lency  of  his  Ex- 
ustice  extend  his 
suffers,  which,  in 
which  humanity 

:y,  for  your  own 
I  have  of  justice, 
touch  the  life  of 
be  disregarded,  I 
Excellency  will 
od  that  may  be 
e,  &c. 

lid  state  the  cir- 
and  gone  —  for 
1  of  them  —  but 
lats  of  retaliation 
and  "Washington, 
1  of  our  people, 
received  the  let- 
facts  it  contained, 
ce  put  that  could 
to  punish  Andrd 
it  it  is  probable 
nication  came  to 
e  told,  when  he 


CORRESPONDENCE  CONCERNING  ANDRlS.  385 

had  forwarded  if,  set  out  about  noon  to  return  to  New  York  • 
and  tins  was  just  the  hour  of  the  execution.     It  doe   not  In 

i::::  rr '-  ;tr'^"  ^^ '-  i-pending::::  x 

ZT  T '    ""*^   ^''"^^"   continued   anxiously  to   wa't 

let  2 '''""" 'T  "'^  ""'^  ""^'  "  -ply  toMl    as 

statemenTnr  '""'  '""'  '^'"^^  °"  Sutherland  for  a 

Ind  The   .        '    '  "  "'"^'  '''"'  *"  "^'^'"^«^  ^"-^  *o  declare 
had  the   comm.ss,oners   been  permitted   to  open  the  case 

death    ^"'^'^'^'^'^  T  '"'"'^"'  ''''  "^^^^  «"-«^  «f  Andre's 
death.     To  preserve  the  connection,  however,  both  are  given 

CLINTON  TO    TVASIIINGTON. 

Mw  York,  October  ia,  1780.  -  Sm :  I  conceived  I  could 
ot  beuer  or  more  fully  explain  „y  senlimenu  in  nlwe"  to 

conCrsf  ir  !:     ,T     ^,  '""'"""  ^''"''-  ^"'-  ^^"^-^  to 

fldenlhl  ;!'  T     '        '  ^°"'  ^"■'  ■"■  "' '™''  «'"'  «»™«  con- 
Mem  al  officer  from  you.     I  cinnot  tl.inlc  Lieue.  Gen  Rob 

erUons  conversalion  will,  General  Green  has  enHre  y  at 

swercd  the  purposes  for  which  I  wished  ,he  mee.in  "     Gen 

cml  Green  s  letter  of  the  2d  instant  to  General  £u>hZ 

ZTnlT '"  '""Tr'"' '°  '""'  «■■•'  -  ^-  - "-»  7 

n  lud  not  produced  any  alteration  in  your  opinion  or  deter- 
mmation  concerning  Major  Andre. 

tet^btr^lf  ■■'■!"?'  ""■'"'"^  "''^"'""^  y"'"-  '"»"'  of  Sep- 
tember 30lh,  which  contains,  indeed,  an  opinion  of  a  Board 

f  jour  Genera  Officers,  but  in  no  respect  any  opinion  or 

d  erm,„at,„n  of  your  Excellency.     I  Lst  remain,  there 

fo.e,  altogether  at  a  loss  what  they  may  be,  until  you  are  so 

Ii»ls.  vol.  126.  ^  "°  '  °'"^''  O™™'  '^'"""■»  ""'1  W. 


38G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDUfe. 


good  to  infunn  ine,  which  I  make  no  doubt  of  your  Excel- 
lency's doing  iinniediatoly.  I  will,  Sir,  in  the  mean  time, 
very  freely  declure  my  scntimenta  upon  thid  occasion,  which 
positively  are,  that  under  no  description.  Major  Andrd  can 
bo  considered  as  a  Spy ;  nor  by  any  usage  of  nations  at  war, 
or  the  customs  of  armies,  can  ho  be  treated  as  such.  That 
olficer  went  at  Major  General  Arnold's  request  from  me  to 
him,  at  thai  time  in  the  American  Service,  and  Commanding 
Officer  at  West-Point.  A  flag  of  truce  was  sent  to  receive 
Major  Andre,  with  which  he  went  on  shore,  and  met  Gen- 
eral Arnold.  To  this  period  he  was  acting  under  my  imme- 
diate 01  Jers  as  a  military  man.  What  happened  after,  was 
from  the  entire  direction  and  positive  orders  of  Major  General 
Arnold,  your  officer  commanding  at  West-Point :  And  Major 
Andre  travelled  in  his  way  to  New-York,  with  passports  from 
that  American  General  Officer,  who  had  an  undoubted  right  to 
grant  them.  And  here  it  may  be  necessary  to  observe,  that 
Major  Andre  was  stopped  upon  the  road,  and  on  neutral 
ground,  and  made  a  prisoner  two  days  prior  to  Major  Gen- 
eral Arnold's  quitting  the  American  service  at  West-Point. 
From  all  which  I  have  a  right  to  assert,  that  Major  Andre 
can  merely  be  considered  as  a  Messenger,  and  not  as  a  Spy. 
He  visited  no  Posts,  made  no  Plans,  held  no  conversation 
with  any  person  save  Major  General  Arnold ;  and  the  pa- 
pers found  upon  him  were  written  in  that  General  Officer's 
own  hand-writing,  who  directed  Major  Andre  to  receive  and 
deliver  them  to  me.  From  these  circumstances,  I  have  no 
doubt  but  you,  Sir,  will  see  this  matter  in  the  same  point  of 
view  with  me,  and  will  be  extremely  cautious  of  producing  a 
precedent  which  may  render  the  future  progress  of  this  un- 
fortunate war  liable  to  a  want  of  that  humanity,  which  I  am 
willing  to  believe  your  Excellency  possesses,  and  which  I 
have  always  pursued.  I  trust.  Sir,  to  your  good  sense,  and 
to  your  liberality,  for  a  speedy  release  of  Major  Andre,  who, 
I  am  free  to  own,  is  an  Officer  I  extremely  value,  and  a 
Gentleman  I  very  sincerely  regard. 


of  your  Exccl- 
liu  mean  time, 
oecnsion,  which 
iijor  Andrd  can 

nations  at  war, 
as  such.  That 
urit  from  mo  to 
id  Commanding 

sent  to  receive 

and  met  Gen- 
nder  my  imme- 
lened  after,  was 

Major  General 
U :  And  Major 
I  passports  from 
doubted  right  to 
to  observe,  that 
and  on  neutral 
•  to  Major  Gen- 

at  West-Point, 
nt  Major  Andre 
id  not  as  a  Spy. 
no  conversation 
d ;  and  the  pa- 
xeneral  Officer's 
i  to  receive  and 
>nces,  I  have  no 
i  same  point  of 
5  of  producing  a 
;res8  of  this  un- 
lity,  which  I  am 
S3,  and  which  I 

good  sense,  and 
jor  Andre,  who, 
ily  value,  and  a 


COimwroNUKNCB  CONCEItNINO  ANl.Kf,  337 

llemg  dcsiro,,,  ,„  ,,„,„„,„  ,„.,  roll  ,  nf  M  "  *"•  ^"RUsImk.. 
"or,  Mr.  Gad,„„,  (br  my  A  L  "„((  '       '      '  ^'""'-  •^'"''^'•• 

kL  to  you  Sir   1„  1    ,""^  "  ""'•^  '"'  ""Jo"-  ^"-l'"'^ 

»o.  and  I  sl„Il  p„;  ,0  ■r'  ""V"  ■■«1"-'  y°"  wi".  Sir,  do 
you,  Exeellcn  /!':  ;:  l'""".;""''-'"'''-.  «nd  give 
'1.0  honor  to  be   &c  "^      "  '"""'='''»'«ly-    I  "mve 


SUTnEUr.AND   TO    CLINTON. 

aeco'In;"c;,^'^Ktt:„''r^  ''■""''  '"'  "'''  "  «■"  ■  ^-e 
'^ctr-aUeaTl  f  '"""""  "^  """  observations  on  the 

vf.,jr,i;rr.r^.trir'''^'«--'^» 

4ztt::%':'  "Xtx"^^"  '-'•--''.  "■".  «„  the 

flag  of  iru  e      Tlf  '^k!  ^'""''  '^"'^  ""  '^"'^  "!"•  a 

"    tvo  sen,!    ;"■""""""  °f  '"^  ""^^  "•■>'-  <•-  himself 
sen,-,„,s  to  pass  to  Dobb's  Ferry  and  baol<  »,.ain 


388 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


He  likewise  had  a  written  permission  to  bring  up  with  him 
a  Mr.  John  Anderson  and  boy,  and  a  letter  addressed  to  Col. 
Robinson  :  all  of  these  papers  signed  B.  Arnold. 

Most  of  these  circumstances  I  had  been  previously  taught 
lo  expect;  and  I  had  also  been  informed  that  Major  Andre 
was  the  person  understood  by  John  Anderson,  and  that  he 
was  to  go  on  shore  under  that  name,  to  hold  a  conference 
with  General  Arnold.  Mr.  Smith's  powers  appeared  to  me 
of  sufficient  authority  ;  and  as  Major  Andre's  going  under  a 
fictitious  name  was  at  the  particular  request  of  the  officer 
from  whom  they  were  derived,  I  saw  no  reason  for  supposing 
he,  from  that  circumstance,  forfeited  his  claim  to  the  protec- 
tion they  must  otherwise  have  affijrded  him.  Clear  I  am 
that  the  matter  must  have  appeared  in  the  same  light  to  him ; 
for  had  it  not,  measures  might  have  been  concerted  for  taking 
him  off  whenever  he  pleased,  which  he  very  well  knew  I,  at 
any  time,  was  enabled  to  accomplish.  I  am  likewise  per- 
suaded that  Mr.  Smith's  ideas  perfectly  coincided  with  ours ; 
— for  when  on  the  point  of  setting  off.  Col.  Robinson  ob- 
served, that  as  they  had  but  two  men  in  a  large  boat,  they 
would  find  some  difficulty  in  getting  on  shore  —  and  proposed 
that  one  of  our's  should  tow  them  some  part  of  the  way  :  to 
which  he  objected,  as  it  might,  in  case  of  falling  in  with  any 
of  their  guard-boats,  be  deemed  an  infringement  of  the  flag. 

On  my  first  learning  from  Major  Andre,  that  he  did  not 
intend  going  on  shore  in  his  own  name,  it  immediately  oc- 
curred to  me,  that  an  alteration  of  dress  might  likewise  be 
necessary ;  and  I  offered  him  a  plain  blue  coat  of  mine  for 
that  purpose,  which  he  declined  accepting,  as  he  said  he  had 
the  Commander  in  Chief's  direction  to  go  in  his  uniform,  and 
by  no  means  to  give  up  his  character ;  adding,  at  the  same 
time,  that  he  had  not  the  smallest  apprehension  on  the  occa- 
sion, and  that  he  was  ready  to  attend  General  Arnold's  sum- 
mons when  and  where  he  pleased. 

The  night  the  flag  was  first  expected,  he  expressed  much 
anxiety  for  its  arrival ;  and  all  next  day  was  full  of  fear  le»t 


— B- 


ring  up  with  liim 
addressed  to  Col. 
nold. 

previously  taught 
hat  Major  Andre 
son,  and  that  ho 
lold  a  conference 
appeared  to  me 
e's  going  under  a 
Bst  of  the  officer 
son  for  supposing 
lim  to  the  protec- 
ra.  Clear  I  am 
ame  light  to  him ; 
ncerted  for  taking 
y  well  knew  I,  at 
am  likewise  per- 
icided  with  ours ; 
'o\.  Robinson  ob- 
a  large  boat,  they 
3  —  and  proposed 
t  of  the  way  :  to 
dling  in  with  any 
jment  of  the  flag. 
,  that  he  did  not 
t  immediately  oc- 
iiight  likewise  be 
coat  of  mine  for 
as  he  said  he  had 
I  his  uniform,  and 
ling,  at  the  same 
ision  on  the  occa- 
ral  Arnold's  sum- 
expressed  much 
,s  full  of  fear  lest 


CORKESPONDENCE  CONCERNING  ANDEf.  389 

S'il  y,  '""■';''W-<' «»  P-vont  it,  coming.    Tl,e 

Tnd  d  I        ,    .°"  ""=  """'"S  "'S""'  ^^  ^^'^i  out  of  bed 
and  discovered  the  greatest  impatience  to  begone-  L  did 

he  m  anynstance  betray  ti.e  least  doubt  of  Ws  .Xvtr 
success.  sarety  or 

I  own  I  was  equally  confident.     Nor  can  I  now   nn  .i, 

concein  to  me.    I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c 
His  Excellency  Sir  Henry  Clinton.     ^'  ^™'=''"'"'- 


I 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Andre  applies  to  be  Shot.  —  His  Request  denied.  —  He  is  hanged.  —Vari- 
ous Accounts  of  the  Execution.  —  Honors  bestowed  on  his  Memory.  — 
His  Remains  removed  to  Westminster  Abbey.. 

The  first  sentence  of  death  passed  in  our  army  was,  I  be- 
lieve, during  the  Quebec  expedition  of  1775 :  the  culprit  was 
respited  by  Arnold  at  the  gallows,  and  sent  back  to  Washing- 
ton. The  earliest  military  execution  seems  to  have  been  that 
of  one  of  the  body-guards,  who  plotted  with  Tryon  to  seize 
our  Genei-al  and  deli>rer  him  to  Howe.  The  most  interest- 
ing was  not  unlike  this  in  many  of  its  circumstances. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  originally  fixed  for  his  death, 
Andre  made  a  moving  appeal  for  a  change  of  its  mode. 

ANDRE   TO    WASHINGTOX. 

Tappan,  1  October,  1780.  —  Sir:  Buoy'd  above  the  terror 
of  death  by  the  consciousness  of  a  life  devoted  to  honorable 
pursuits  and  stained  with  no  action  that  can  give  me  remorse, 
I  trust  that  the  request  I  make  to  your  Excellency,  at  this 
serious  period,  and  which  is  to  soften  my  last  moments,  will 
not  be  rejected. 

Sympathy  towards  a  soldier  Avill  surely  induce  your  Ex- 
cellency and  a  military  tribunal  to  adapt  the  mode  of  my 
death  to  the  feelings  of  a  man  of  honor.  Let  me  hope,  Sir, 
that  if  ought  in  ray  character  impresses  you  with  esteem 
towards  me,  if  ought  in  my  misfortunes  marks  me  the  victim 
of  policy  and  not  of  resentment,  I  shall  experience  the  opera- 
tion of  those  feelings  in  your  heart,  by  being  informed  that  I 
am  not  to  die  on  a  gibbet. 


ANDEjfi  APPLIES  TO  BE  SHOT. 


391 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  Excellency's  most  obedient 
and  most  liumble  servant,  ooeuient 

John  Andrk,  Adj.  Genl.  to  the  British  Army.* 

noWe  line!'''  'T.',^  7"''  '""  '^^'^^^'  "^^  ««»  ^ead  these 
ed  .ensibihty,  without  regretting  that  the  same  policy  that 

h.nk  of  this  language  of  Miss  Seward  to  he'  fr  e^oiiss  Pons  nh'  TT^' 
the^pas^e  at  length  to  show  .hat  triCs  n^ero^^'^i^^retfJe/ pT; 

peace  was  sitrned  hptwAon  *i.o  .        myseii,  but  a  icw  years  after 

Ledhi.seiffr.™tr„:dtn;r:^^^^^^^^^^      ««^-  ^-- 

ofmycensufe     WUhalvlfthTn'^'T'""?  '"'  ^'^ '^^'^  -j-^'- 
determined  Andrd's  condemn  at  in     .f'*^'"^'  "^  ''^'^  court-martial  that 

Washington  to  GenerafcTnton  „'/'•''  T  '  ''P^'  ''  '  ''''''  '^'^  ^en. 

forAr„o!d,whohad  i^    the'^^^^^^^^     ''  ^T  "^  ^"'^'"^  ^"  ^^^'-"^^ 
was  to  believe  that  tLonncf!..    ^^^^'^h  camp,  observing  the  reason  there 

officer  to  unnL  s^.^;!^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^  -«  gallant  English 

letter  of  Gen.  WashCLn  Tn  ^j/f ''"f  V?  '''^"  '''"P'=  ^"P^  «f  another 

commanderlShifunavLkbT'         ':^'''^'r"^  '^''"  *«  ^^'^^^  *«  -« 

nold,  in  suggesting  that  oZ  of  H  ''I''?  '^  ^'^^  ^'^'^''^'^  P^^^dy  cf  Ar- 

certaincontrnTaL^^^'TpJ^t^^^^^^^^ 

mentals,  and  under  a  fla^  of  tn  .T  ;.,     1  *""^  ""P""'^  ^"  ^^^'^  ^egi- 

eraI,he;ouldha;beXr^   lyi^ 

thanking  General  Washi^f  ^  h;Xst  hf  t'o'oW  ^^f  ^^  '"""''' 

observing,  that,  even  under  convTctio^of  71.?.^  A  T^-  ^''*'"^=  ^"' 
liis  safety,  he  could  not  sulL,  I^r  ''^^^"^'^^1  Arnold's  inattention  to 
influence'^lum  to  sit  is  ?St  io:SnTl?  f^^^'^.-^'^-^'  -^-h  might 
madam,  are  the  circum  a„c  s  as  S.  .  ^'  ^^  ""  '^'^''*"S^-  '^^'^'^ 
distance  of  time  of  thT  nt^rS  m  /  ^  *"'  ^  """  '■'^'''"  t'^^™  ^^  such  a 
I  slightly  menti;     f  t:  y  reS  ^^-•^""^ton's  friend,  which 

noss  of  being  with  you  laTs«^^^^  ^^"""•'  ""^"  '  '^^  ^^  '-PPi- 

Jhe  American  officer  rcfe^ed  to  issupposed  to  have  been  Colonel  Hun. 


iftiii 


392 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


exacted  the  sacrifice  prescribed  the  most  rigorous  fulfilment 
of  its  harshest  details.  The  request  was  pronounced  inad- 
missible by  Washington's  counsellors  :  and  since  assent  was 
out  of  his  power,  he  was  unwilling  to  wound  the  writer  by  a 
refusal.     No  reply  was  therefore  made. 

Letters  of  farewell  to  his  mother  and  his  nearest  friends 
were  written :  and  the  condemned  man's  calmness  was  still 
evinced  in  the  exercise  of  his  pen.  On  this  same  evening 
he  sketched  from  memory,  as  a  memento  for  a  friend  in  New 
York,  the  striking  view  of  the  North  River  that  had  pre- 
sented itself  to  him  as  he  looked  from  the  window  of  Smith's 
house,  and  figured  the  position  of  the  Vulture  as  she  rode  at 
anchor  beyond  his  reach.  Tradition  also  assigns  to  this 
occasion  the  composition  of  some  last  verses,  that  were  long 
cherished  on  the  lips  of  the  common  people.*  The  morning 
of  Tuesday,  October  the  2d,  1780,  found  him  with  his  mor- 
tal duties  all  performed  and  not  afraid  to  die. 

The  prisoner's  board  was  supplied  from  Washington's  own 
table  :  on  this  day  his  breakfast  was  sent  him,  as  usual,  from 
the  General's  quarters.  He  ate  with  entire  composure,  and 
then  proceeded  to  shave  and  to  dress  with  particular  care. 
He  was  fully  arrayed  in  the  habits  of  his  rank  and  profes- 
sion, with  the  exception  of  sash  and  spurs,  sword  and  gorget. 
The  toilet  completed,  he  laid  his  hat  on  the  table  and  cheer- 
fully said  to  the  guard-officers  deputed  to  lead  him  forth, 
"  I  am  ready  at  any  moment,  gentlemen,  to  wait  on  you." 
Though  his  face  was  of  deadly  paleness,  its  features  were 
tranquil  and  calm ;  his  beauty  shone  with  an  unnatural 
distinctness  that  awed  the  hearts  of  the  vulgar,  and  his  man- 
ners and  air  were  as  easy  as  though  he  was  going  to  a  ball- 
room rather  than  the  grave. 

The  spot  fixed  for  the  closing  scene  was  in  an  open  field 
belonging  to  the  owner  of  the  house  wherein  he  was  detained, 
and  on  an  eminence  that  commands  an  extended  view.  It 
was  within  a  mile,  and  in  open  sight  of  Washington's  quar- 

*  See  Appendix,  No.  III. 


orous  fulfilment 
onounced  inad- 
ince  assent  was 
the  writer  by  a 

nearest  friends 
Imness  was  still 
i  same  evening 
I  friend  in  New 
■  that  had  pre- 
idow  of  Smith's 
}  as  she  rode  at 
assigns   to  this 

that  were  long 

The  morning 

1  with  his  mor- 

ashington's  own 
1,  as  usual,  from 
composure,  and 
particular  care, 
ink  and  profes- 
^ord  and  gorget, 
able  and  cheer- 
lead  him  forth, 
3  wait  on  you." 
ts  features  were 
1  an  unnatural 
ar,  and  his  man- 
.  going  to  a  ball- 
in  an  open  field 
he  was  detained, 
ended  view.  It 
ishington's  quar- 


TREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  EXECUTION.  393 

grave  of  three  or  four  feet  depth  was  digged.     The  office  of 
hangman,  always  an  odious  employment,1as  peri    ps  on  thil 

took  ,t.     One  Strickland,  a  tory  of  Raraapo  Valley  was  in 
our  hands  at  the  time.     His  threatened  fafe  may  W 
mrd  :  his  years  were  not  many ;  and  by  the  price  o  freedom 

lied   to  To  t,         uV"  '''''''''''  ^'^'^'^  ^-  P-^'-^J^ly 
unknown.  '  "°"'  '''  "^"^'  ''  "^^  ""-^-^'  ^^  ^east 

Besides  the  officers  that  were  ahvnv«  ;.,  *i       t       , 

sentinel  uep.  „.e,.  ^y  .^^::t^]:^z:^::^^ 

Anmes  breast,  ,t  could  not  have  developed  into  even  ll» 

a^old.ng  Im  doom  he  never  descended.  The  noon  of  (hi. 
day  was  the  hour  appointed  for  the  execution  and  at  hi^ 
»n  hour  before,  the  cortege  set  forth.  Andr  Talked  a™ 
arm  between  two  subalterns;  each,  it  is  said,  with  aTawn 
word  m  the  opposite  hand.  A  captain's  com Lnd  of  t  il 
or  forty  men  marched  immediately  about  these,  whi  e  an 

forS  ato,™  """'"''  '"'■'""^^  environed'the  to 
one  save  thf  I''""'"  7"'"'  ''"'  S'bbet  within  which 

men  we^lff  f^  °"  ''"'^  ""''  "'^  P.-ovost-marshal's 
men  were  suffered  to  enter.  An  immense  multitude  was 
.owever  assembled  on  all  sides  to  witness  the  spe ctaele  Id 
I?  ';""^?  """S  "">  ''"y  "as  thronged  with  eag^r  „ 
tat  only  of  Washington  excepted.  Here  the  shftte«  we  e' 
<I.awn,and  no  man  was  visible  but  the  two  sentries  l! 
pace     0  and  fro  before  the  door.     Neither  the  cS  11     f' 

vinch  was  declared  by  our  people  and  assented  to  by  Andre 

s  evmcmg  a  laudable  decorum.     But  almost  evety  fie  d 

ter  m  our  army  with  Greene  at  thoir  head  led  the  proce  . 

«.  on  horseback:  and  a  number  followed  the  prisoner  o„ 


liil 


III 


§ 
I 


iiiil 


li 


394 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRl!:. 


foot,  wliile  the  outer  guard,  stretching  in  single  file  on  either 
side  and  in  front  and  rear,  prevented  the  concourse  from 
crowding  in.  In  addition  to  all  those  who  came  in  from  the 
country-side,  it  is  unlikely  that  many  of  the  army  who  could 
contrive  to  be  present  missed  the  sight.  Every  eye  was 
fixed  on  the  prisoner ;  and  every  face  wore  such  an  aspect 
of  melancholy  and  gloom  that  the  impression  produced  on 
some  of  our  officers  was  not  only  affecting  but  awful. 

Keeping  pace  with  the  melancholy  notes  of  the  dead- 
march,  the  procession  passed  along:  no  member  of  it  ap- 
parently less  troubled  than  he  whose  conduct  was  its  cause 
and  whose  death  was  its  object.*  In  the  beautiful  Orientalism 
of  Sir  William  Jones,  he  dying  only  smiled  while  around 
him  grieved.  His  heart  told  him  that  a  life  honorably  spent 
in  the  pursuit  of  glory  would  not  leave  his  name  to  be  en- 
rolled among  those  of  the  ignoble  or  guilty  many :  and  his 
face  bespoke  the  serenity  of  an  approving  and  undismayed 
conscience.  From  time  to  time,  as  he  caught  the  eye  of  an 
acquaintance,  —  and  especially  to  the  officers  of  the  Court  of 
Enquiry,  —  he  tendered  the  customary  civilities  of  recogni- 
tion, and  received  their  acknowledgments  with  composure 
and  grace.  It  seems  that  up  to  this  moment  he  was  per- 
suaded that  he  was  not  to  be  hanged,  but  to  be  shot  to  death : 
and  the  inner  guard  in  attendance  he  took  to  be  the  firing 
pax'ty  detailed  for  the  occasion.  Not  until  the  troops  turned 
suddenly,  at  a  right  angle  with  the  course  they  had  hitherto 
followed,  and  the  gallows  rose  high  before  him,  was  he  unde- 
ceived. In  the  very  moment  of  wheeling  with  his  escort,  his 
eye  rested  on  the  ill-omened  tree ;  and  he  recoiled  and  paused, 
"Why  this  emotion,  sir?  "  asked  Smith,  who  held  one  of  his 
arms.  "  I  am  reconciled  to  my  fate,"  —  said  Andre,  clench- 
ing his  fist  and  convulsively  moving  his  arm,  —  "but  not  to 

*  Benjamin  Abbot,  a  drum-major,  who  beat  the  dead-march  on  this  occa- 
Bion,  died  at  Nashua,  N.  II.,  in  1851,  aged  92.  Peter  Besan9on  who  fol- 
lowed La  Faj'ctte  hither  from  France,  and  who  died  at  Warsaw,  New  York, 
in  1855,  was  probably  the  hist  surviving  spectator.        , 


III 


THE  EXECUTION. 


le  file  on  cither 
concourse  from 
ime  in  from  the 
nrmy  who  could 
Every  eye  was 
such  an  aspect 
Dn  produced  on 
t  awful. 

js  of  the  dead- 
ember  of  it  ap- 
;t  was  its  cause 
tiful  Orientalism 
id  while  around 
honorably  spent 
name  to  be  en- 
many:  and  his 
and  undismayed 
it  the  eye  of  an 
of  the  Court  of 
lities  of  recogni- 
with  composure 
ent  he  was  per- 
DC  shot  to  death : 
to  be  the  firing 
he  troops  turned 
ley  had  hitherto 
m,  was  he  unde- 
th  his  escort,  his 
oiled  and  paused. 
a  held  one  of  his 
d  Andre,  clench- 
I,  —  "but  not  to 

-march  on  this  occa- 
■  Besan9on  who  fol- 
Warsaw,  New  York, 


the  mode  of  it !  "     «'  It 


395 


1     ,  -  --  ""avoidable,  sir,"  was  iho  i^^nUr 

.od la!  f  =  -"™"f  '  "-  "-  '•"  ".is  manner'?"    bZ 

red    «b    r„-n  "^"-•f-'Ho-vhard  i.  my  ,.,,r  ha 
t-rieu,     but  It  will  soon  be  over" 

Ascending  the  hill-side,  the  prisoner  was  brouW.t  to  the 

g.bbe,  wh,le  the  outer  guard  secured  the  eereraon°y  fri  t 

rirtud     1"'  "'"  """f  P-P-t'o-.  Ms  nincTJa, 

benrh.he.,7r^~r"'''='""'^'-°'''"=  »  P"'''''^  ">  "-J  fio 
beneath  the  ball  of  h.s  foot,  and  the  gland  of  his  throat  sink 

.ng  and  swelling  as  though  he  choked  with  erao  i^     ml 

servant  who  had  followed  him  to  this  point  nowtm  forth 

>mh  loud  weeping  and  lamentation,  and  Andre  f„    am 

look  7  /"''•'■.''"''  P"™'^'y  conversed  with  him.  He 
shook  hands  w,th  Tallmadge,  who  withdrew.  A  b..Zl 
wagon  was  driven   beneath   the  cross-.ree,  into  whth"  he 

eaped  hghtly,  but  with  visible  loathing;  and  tht^w^l  ,' 
bat  aide,  removed  his  slock,  opened  his  shirt-eollar'and 

Me  'it'atr  IT  '"":  "^  <='"'"^^  -S-.  "'-"'f  ad' 
ju  led  It  about  his  neck.    He  could  not  conceal  his  dis-^ust 

otr  hil  :;;    '°"°"°"     ^"^»  "«  '--•^  "-^  l-ndkerdiiof 
The  order  of  execution  was  loudly  and  impressively  read 

oimed  Andre  he  might  now  speak,  if  he  had  anything  lo 

ay.     Lifting  the  bandage  for  a  moment  from  his  eyes   lit 

bowed  courteously  to  Greene  and  the  attending  offlcTrr'nnd 

said  with  firmness  and  di"Tiiiv_"  An  t    "^     ,*'<'','' ""'' 

.-.omen  is  that  you  wiirbeaVwitnef'to  t rridlhaTi 

iiertone  were,  _'<It  will  he  but  a  momentary  pan"!  " 

^ZTalZu' r ■'''"'''   '^"^  'he' commanding 
Jiiicer  on  duty  suddenly  cried  out,— 

"His  arms  must  be  tied!" 

The  hangman  witli  a  piece  of  cord  laid  hold  of  him  to  per- 


39G 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDKfi. 


form  this  order :  but  recoiling  from  his  touch  Andre  vehe- 
mently struck  away  the  man's  hand,  and  drew  another  hand- 
kerchief from  his  pocket  with  which  the  elbows  were  loosely 
pinioned  behind  his  back.  The  signal  was  given ;  the  wagon 
rolled  swiftly  away ;  and  almost  in  the  same  instant  he  ceased 
to  exist.  The  height  of  the  gibbet,  the  length  of  the  cord, 
and  the  sudden  shock  as  he  was  jerked  from  the  collin-lid  on 
which  he  stood,  produced  immediate  death. 

A  minute  account  of  the  scene  is  given  by  a  soldier  who 
was  present  on  the  occasion.* 

"  I  was  at  that  time  an  artificer  in  Colonel  Jeduthan  Bald- 
win's regiment,  a  parf  of  which  was  stationed  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  spc  /here  Andre  suffered.  One  of  our  men 
(I  believe  his  name  was  Armstrong)  being  one  of  the  oldest 
and  best  workmen  at  his  trade  in  the  regiment,  was  selected 
to  make  his  coffin,  which  he  performed,  and  painted  black, 
agreeably  to  the  custom  in  those  times.  At  this  time  Andre 
was  confined  in  what  was  called  a  Dutch  Church,  a  small 
stone  building  with  only  on'^  door,  and  closely  guarded  by 
six  sentinels.  When  the  hour  appointed  for  his  execution 
arrived,  which  I  believe  was  two  o'clock  p.  m.,  a  guard  of 
three  hundred  men  were  paraded  at  the  place  of  his  confine- 
ment. A  kind  of  procession  was  formed,  by  placing  a  guard 
in  single  file  on  each  side  of  the  road.  In  front  were  a  large 
number  of  American  officers  of  high  rank  on  horseback. 
These  were  followed  by  a  wagon  containing  Andre's  coffin ; 
then  a  large  number  of  officers  on  foc»t,  with  Andre  in  their 
midst.     Tiie  procession  moved  slowly  up  a  moderately  rising 


*  Barber  and  Howe :  Hist.  Coll.  N.  J.  p.  77.  This  story  is  told  in  a 
simple  and  probable  form :  but  it  contains  some  inaccuracies  that  might 
reasonably  be  looked  for  in  the  tale  of  a  private  soldier  whose  knowledge 
of  all  save  what  he  saw  came  from  the  hearsay  of  the  camp. 

The  preceding  sketch  of  the  execution  is  collated  from  the  accounts  of 
Thacher,  Tallmadge,  and  Russell,  eye-witnesses  of  the  scene;  and  as  nearly 
as  possible  is  given  in  their  own  words.  Thacher,  274 :  N.  E.  Mag.  vi.  303. 
Sparks'sArn.  255:  Irving's  Wash.  iv.  149,  157:  MS.  Mem.  of  Russell's 
account:  Vind.  Capt.  p.  26. 


y  a  soldier  who 


VAUWUS  ACCOUNTS  OK  TllK  EXKCUTION.  397 

I'ill.  I  «.  ould  tl,!„k  about  a  fourll,  of  a  „,il„  ,„  ,|,e  „es.      Oa 
".0  .0,,  was  a  field  wUhout  any  enclosure.     In  ,ruW,s 
very  1„,„  gallows,  made  by  sc.iag  up  two  He«"  o   eje  e, 

colhn  «as  drawn  directly  under  Ibe  gallows.     In  a  sbort  timp 

coffln'i'rot^T  "r,"'"",?"  "'•"--goa;",::::::, 

comn  -took  ofr  h.3  hat,  and  laid  it  down-  tben  placed  his 

ortli,  as  far  as  the  length  of  his  coIRn  would  permit  •  at 
•he  same  ,,„,«  casting  bis  eyes  u,»n  the  pole  over  ill  ij 
and  the  whole  scenery  by  which  he  was  surrounded      He 
was  dressed  in  what  I  should  call  a  complete".  „„ 
form  i  his  coat  was  of  the  briH.lcst  scarlet  fn,.,         .  ■ 

with  tlio  m„.t  I       .T  I         '■=""•*'  s'^ailet,  tact-    or  trimmed 
wuh  the  mo»t  beautiful  green.      His  „ndei-cloi     s,  or  vest 
and  breeches,  were  bright  bulT,  very  similar  to  those  woin 
y  military  officers  in  Connecticut  a[  the  present  ^y.     H^ 
ad  a  long  aad  beautiful  head  of  hair,  w^iicb,  a"re«.bly  to    ' 

s  back.     All  eyes  were  upon  him;  and  it  is  not  believed 
bat  any  officer  of  the  British  army,  placed  in  his  situat  on 
Mould  have  appeared  better  than  this  unfortunate  man.     Not' 
many  minutes  aller  he  took  his  stand  upon  the  cof^^n  To 
executioner  stepped  into  the  wagon,  with  a   halter  t'  hi 

nd,  which  he  attempted  to  put  over  the  head  and  aln 

he  neck  of  Andre,  but  by  a  sudden  movement  of  his  hand 

I..S  was  prevented.    Andre  took  off  the  handkerchief  torn 

his  neck  unpinned  his  shirt-eollar,  and  deliberately  took  tZ 

nd  0    the  halter,  put  it  over  his  head,  and  plaeJthe  k„^ 

directly  under  his  right  ear,  and  drew  it  very  snu*  o   .1 

"d  tiedto    "h-°'  '""^  'f  '»»'-'"'»''^'  "l-^erehit 
and  tied    t  over  his  eyes.     This  done  the  officer  that  com 

manded    bis  name  I  have  forgotten)  spoke  in  rather  a   Zd 

voice  and  said  that  his  arms  must  he  tied.     Andre  at  once 

pu  led  down  the  handkerchief  he  had  just  tied  over  his  eyes 

nd  drew  fi-om  his  pocket  a  second  one,  and  gave  it  to  the 

e>tec,itioner  ,  and  then  replaced  his  handkerchief.     His  nr" 


it"' 


•s 


!,iii 


398 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDIif:. 


were  lied  just  above  the  elbows,  and  behind  the  back.     The 
rope  was  then  made  fast  to  the  pole  over  liead.     The  wagon 
was   very  suddenly  drawn  from   under  the  gallows,  which 
together  with  the  length  of  the  rope  gave  him  a  most  tre- 
mendous swing  back  and  forth;  but  in   a  few  minutes  ho 
hung  entirely  still.     During  the  whole  transaction,  he  ap- 
peared as  little  daunted  as  Mr.  John  Rogers  is  said  to  have 
been,  Avhen  he  was  about  to  be  burnt  at  the  stake  ;  but  his 
countenance  was   rather   pale.      He   remained    hanging,   1 
should  think,  from  twenty  to  thirty  minutes ;  and  during  that 
time  the  chambers  of  death  were  never  stiller  than  the  mul- 
titude by  which  he  was  surrounded.     Orders  were  given  to 
cut  the  rope,  and  take  him  down,  without  letting  him  fall. 
This  was  done,  and  his  body  carefully  laid  on  the  ground. 
Shortly  after,  the  guard  was  withdrawn,  and  spectators  were 
permitted  ;to  come  forward  and   view  the  corpse ;  but  the 
crowd  was  so  great,  that  it  was  some  time  before  1  could  get 
an  opportunity.     When  I  was  able  to  do  this,  his  coat,  vest, 
and  breeches,  were  taken  off,  and  his  body  laid  in  the  coffin, 
covered  by  some  under-clothes.     The  top  of  the  coffin  was 
not  put  on.     I  viewed  the  corpse  more  carefully  than  I  had 
ever  done  that  of  any  human  being  before.     His  head  was 
very  much  on  one  side,  in  consequence  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  halter  drew  upon  his  neck.     His  face  appeared 
to  be  greatly  swollen,  and  very  black,  much  resembling  a 
high  degree  of  mortification.     It  was  indeed  a  shocking  sight 
to  behold.      There  were  at  this  time -standing  at  the  foot 
of  the  coffin,  two  young  men,  of  uncommon  short  stature. 
I  should  think  not  more  than  four  feet  high.     Their  dress 
was  the  most  gaudy  that  I  ever  beheld.     One  of  them  had 
the  clothes,  just  taken  from  AndrcS  hanging  on  his  arm.     I 
took  particular  pains  to  learn  who  they  were ;  and  was  in- 
formed that  they  were  his  servants,  sent  up  from  New  York 
to  take  his  clothes ;  but  what  other  business  I  did  not  learn. 
*'  I  now  turned  to  take  a  view  of  the  executioner,  who  was 
still  standing  by  one  of  the  posts  of  the  gallows.     I  walked 


the  back.  Tho 
id.  The  wagon 
gallows,  which 
lirn  a  most  tre- 
ew  minutes  lie 
saction,  he  ap- 
is said  to  have 

stake  ;  but  his 
ed  hanging,  1 
and  during  that 
r  than  the  mul- 

were  given  to 
Jtting  him  fall. 
)n  the  ground, 
spectators  were 
orpse ;  but  the 
bre  1  could  get 
,  his  coat,  vest, 
id  in  the  coffin, 
the  coffin  was 
illy  than  I  had 

His  head  was 
he  manner  in 
face  appeared 

resembling  a 

shocking  sight 

ig  at  the  foot 

short  stature. 
.  Their  dress 
J  of  them  had 
n  his  arm.  I 
;  and  was  in- 
om  New  York 

did  not  learn, 
oner,  who  was 
k\'s.     I  walked 


VAUroUS  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  EXKCUTIOxN.  31)^ 

"Ish  enough  to  him  to  have  laid  my  hand  upon  his  shoulder 
and  looked  hnn  directly  in  the  face.  He  appeared  o  be 
about  twenty-nve  years  of  age,  his  beard  of  tu^or  three 
weeks  growth,  and  his  whole  face  covered  with  wha  an 
i>oared  to  me  to  be  blacking  taken  from  the  outside  of 'a 
greasy  pot.  A  more  frightful-looking  being  I  never  beheld  • 
|.s  whole  countenance  bespoke  hi.n  to  be  a'fit  instrumen   f'; 

tl^  wIT   r  '"'  '"r"  '°"-"-     ''^^^'"'""  '^  -«  '•-  closing 
of  the  whole  busmess,  I  remained  upon  the  spot  until  scared 

^en  y  persons  were  left,  but  the  coffin  was  Lll  beside  the 
g  ave,  winch  had  previously  been  dug.  I  „ow  returned  to 
•ny  tent,  with  my  mind  deeply  imbued  with  the  shocking 
scene  I  had  been  called  to  witness."  " 

Every  authentic  account  that  we  have  shows  how  much 
our  officers  regretted  the  necessity  of  Andre's  death,  and  how 
amply  they  fulfilled  his  parting  adjuration.     The  tears  of 
thousands,  says  Thaeher,  fell  on  the  spot  where  he  lay;  and 
no  one  refrained  from  proclaiming  his  sympathy.*      Many 
wept  openly  as  he  died ;  among  whom  it  is  recorded  (appaZ 
ently  on  the  testimony  of  Laune)  was  La  Fayette.      Cer- 
tamly  the  marquis  bore  witness  to  the  infinite  regret  with 
which  the  fate  of  such  a  noble  and  magnanimous  character 
inspired  hnn.   It  was  believed  in  the  army  that  Washinc^ton's 
soul  revolted  at  the  task,  and  that  he  could  scarcely  com- 
rnand  the  pen  when  he  subscribed  the  fatal  warrant.     An 
American  officer  who  was  present  and  who  brought  the  news 
to  13urgoyne's  troops  detained  at  Winchester,  asserted  that 
our  General  shed  tears  on  the  execution,  and  would  fain 
have  changed   its.  mode.     Without  depending   entirely  on 
anecdotes  which,  though  of  contemporaneous  origin,  are  not 

fin*  ^'"'f^^^^^Paffes  are  going  through  the  press,  one  of  our  most  dis. 
nguished  h,s  orical  students  and  writers  has  oiliged  me  with  a  eomnun  I 
at,on  respecting  Andre's  death:-"  I  have  met  revolutionarv  men  X 
e  with  hun  as  sentinels  on  the  day  of  his  execution.   One,  Enos  l" eyno  ds 

0  d  me  more  than  once  the  sad  story,  us  tears  ran  down  h  s  ch  e  s      <  He 

and  he  sa.d  the  men  all  around  him  wore  weeping  when  he  met  his  fate." 


iiiiiiBe 


ii 


400 


LIFE  OF  MA.JOIi  ANDll£. 


supporto*!  hy  direct  evidonco,  it  is  very  certain  that  no  little 
Horrow  was  Mt  on  tli»j  occasion  by  botli  friends  and  foes. 
IJronson  lor  instance,  whose  association  with  tlie  prisoner 
contiiuied  from  liis  arrest  to  tiic  gallows-foot,  never  recurred 
willingly  to  the  event,  nor  without  hearty  regret  and  emo- 
tion. The  highest  testimony  is  that  of  Washington.  "  Andro 
has  met  his  fate,"  wrote  he,  "and  with  that  fortitude  which 
was  to  be  expected  from  an  accom[)li8hed  man  and  gallant 
olHcer:"  and  again — "The  circumstances  under  which  ho 
v/tts  taken  justified  it,  and  policy  required  a  sacrifice;  but  as 
he  was  more  unfortunate  than  criminal,  and  as  there  was 
much  in  his  character  to  interest,  while  we  yielded  to  the 
necessity  of  rigor,  wo  could  not  but  lament  it."  This  was 
said  a  few  days  after  Andre's  death.  In  after-years,  thougli 
he  once  indeed  at  his  own  table  went  over  the  details  of  Ar- 
nold's defection,  Washington  is  reported  by  his  confidential 
attendants  lo  have  never,  even  by  his  own  fireside,  alluded  to 
Andre's  trial  or  fate. 

Others  were  not  so  guarded,  and  of  course  a  thousand  wild 
rumors,  distorted  from  the  truth  by  political  bias,  went  flying 
over  the  land.  The  English  reports  must  have  originated  in 
part  "with  the  servant  Laune,  for  they  are  early  and  in  part 
correct.  Andre's  dying  words  are  given  in  palpable  error. 
"  Remember  that  I  die  as  becomes  a  British  officer,  while 
the  manner  of  my  death  must  reflect  disgrace  on  your  com- 
mander." Another  account  says  that  before  signing  to  the 
hangman  to  proceed  he  thus  addressed  our  officers  :  "  As  I 
suffer  for  the  service  of  my  country,  I  must  consider  this 
hour  as  the  most  glorious  of  my  life.  Remember,  that  I  die 
as  becomes  a  British  officer,  while  the  manner  of  my  death 
must  reflect  disgrace  on  your  commander."  We  can  under- 
stand how  a  bewildered  and  grief-stricken  valet  may  have 
confused  together  tlie  incorrect  recollections  of  what  private 
consolatory  remarks  his  master  may  have  made  to  him,  and 
what  he  said  publicly:  but  there  was  less  excuse  for  the 
ostentatious  manner  in  which  the  Pennsylvania  Packet  of 


In  tlint  no  littlo 
lends  and  foes 
li  the  prisoner 
never  recurred 
L'gret  and  emo- 
ngton.  "  Andru 
fortitude  which 
an  and  galhint 
nider  which  lie 
acrilice ;  but  as 
d  as  there  was 
yielded  to  the 
it."  This  was 
!r-years,  thougli 
e  details  of  Ar- 
his  confidential 
jside,  alluded  to 

1  thousand  wild 
ias,  went  flying 
re  originated  in 
"ly  and  in  part 
palpable  error, 
h  officer,  while 
;e  on  your  corn- 
signing  to  the 
Dlficers  :  "  As  I 
!t  consider  this 
nber,  that  I  die 
3r  of  my  death 
We  can  under- 
alet  may  have 
f  what  private 
\de  to  him,  and 
excuse  for  the 
inia  Packet  of 


VARIOUS  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  EXKCUTION.  -101 

Oct.  31,  1780,  ma.le  Andre  exclaim  to  our  army  :  "  Be  mv 

wunesses,  w^hile  I  acknowledge  the  propriety  of  my  sentences 

•at  I  d.e  hko  a  brave  man."    If  he  protested  not  against  it 

;   Hcertam  he  never  acknowledged  the  justice  of  his  fate. 

Ihe  same  journal  however  at  other  times  gave  more  reason- 

able  accounts  ;  and  thus  gratified  its  ancient  partisan  feelings 

m  a  comment  upon  Clinton's  bad  bargain :  — 

'Twns  Arnold's  post  Sir  Harry  sought ; 
Arnold  no'er  entered  in  his  tliought. 
How  ends  the  bargain?  let  us  see; 
The  fort  is  safe  as  safe  can  be : 
iris  favorite  perforce  must  die  : 
His  view's  laid  bare  to  cv'ry  eye: 
His  money's  gone— and  lo,  ho  gains 
•      One  scoundrel  more  for  all  his  pains. 
Andr(5  was  gen'rous,  true,  and  bravo  — 
And  in  his  place  he  buys  a  knave. 
'Tis  sure  ordain'd  that  Arnold  cheafn 
All  those  of  course  with  whom  he  treats. 
Now  lot  the  Devil  suspect  a  bite, 
Or  Arnold  cheats  hitn  of  his  right. 

The  sorrow  and  indignation  of  Andre's  friends  gave  occa- 
sion  to  other  unfounded  charges.  At  Southampton,  where 
h.s  family  connections  extended,  it  was  reported  that  Clinton 
solicited  «as  a  singular  favor,  after  his  dear  friend  and  com- 
panion  should  be  hung,  the  body  might  be  sent  to  him  -  but 
Washington  refused.  Clinton  then  sent  again,  that  since  the 
sentence  was  to  bury  the  body  under  the  gallows,  it  mi^^ht 
be  taken  up  and  brought  to  New  York,  there  to  be  interred 
with  the  military  honors  due  to  so  brave  and  accomplished  a 
young  man.     This  Washington  also  refused." 

This  silly  tale  is  sufficiently  exposed  by  Sir  Henry's  own 
statement  that  he  knew  not  of  his  Adjutant's  being  handed 
un  the  arrival  of  Laune  with  his  master's  baggage  told  him 
all  was  oyer.  When  the  burial  at  the  gibbet's  foot  was  about 
to  be  made,  the  man  had  demanded  Andre's  uniform,  which 
was  accordingly  removed  and  given  him.  The  corpse  was 
then  laid  ,n  earth,  and  no  monument  but  the  usual  cairn, 


III 


■  ■! 


I  \ 


iii 


402 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


j,^WM»  I 


such  as  rose  over  the  spot  where  Gustavus  fell  at  Lutzen 
"  for  liberty  of  conscience,"  marked  the  solitary  grave.  The 
surrounding  field  was  cultivated,  but  the  plough  still  shunned 
the  place  :  for  it  was  customary  in  this  region  for  the  laborers 
in  their  tillage  to  spare  the  soil  that  covered  a  soldier ;  and 
as  early  as  1 778  the  fields  of  Long  Island  were  noticed  to  be 
checkered  over  with  patches  of  wild  growth  that  showed 
where  men  lay  who  were  slain  in  the  battle  there. 

With  generous  sensibility  Colonel  William  S.  Smith  of 
our  army  embraced  the  opportunity  of  purchasing  the  watch 
that  the  captors  had  taken.  It  was  sold  for  their  benefit  for 
thirty  guineas.  He  bought  it ;  and  mindful  of  the  tender 
affection  with  which  Andre  had  been  heard  to  speak  of  his 
mother  and  sisters  in  England,  sent  it  in  to  Robertson  to  be 
transmitted  to  these  ladies.  The  unfortunate  man's  Will 
testifies  with  what  regard  his  whole  domestic  circle  was  held. 
It  was  sworn  to  before  Carey  Ludlow,  Surrogate  of  New 
York,  and  admitted  to  probate  October  12th,  1780. 

"  The  following  is  my  last  will  and  testament,  and  I  ap- 
point as  executors  thereto  Maiy  Louisa  Andre,  my  mother ; 
David  Andre,  my  uncle ;  Andrew  Girardot,  my  uncle  ;  John 
Lewis  Andre,  my  uncle.  To  each  of  the  above  executors  I 
give  fifty  pounds.  I  give  to  Mary  Hannah  Andre,  my  sister, 
seven  hundred  pounds.  I  give  to  Louisa  Catharine  Andre, 
my  sister,  seven  hundred  pounds.  I  give  to  William  Lewis 
Andre,  my  brother,  seven  hundred  pounds.  But  the  condi- 
tion on  which  I  give  the  above-mentioned  sums  to  my  afore- 
said brother  and  sisters  are  that  each  of  them  shall  pay  to 
Mary  Louisa  Andre,  my  mother,  the  sum  of  ten  pounds 
yearly  during  her  life.  I  give  to  Walter  Ewer,  Jr.,  of  Dyers 
Court,  Aldermanbury,  one  hundred  pounds.  I  give  to  John 
Ewer,  Jr.,  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  one  hundred  pounds.  I  desue 
a  ring,  value  fifty  pounds,  to  be  given  to  my  friend,  Peter 
Boissier,  of  the  11th  Dragoons.  I  desire  that  Walter  Ewer, 
Jr.,  of  Dyers  Court,  Aldermanbury,  have  the  inspection  of  my 


ANDRE'S  WILL. 


fell  at  Lutzen 
y  grave.  The 
h  still  shunned 
or  the  laborers 
a  soldier ;  and 
e  noticed  to  be 
1  that  showed 
e  there. 

S.   Smith  of 

iing  the  watch 

deir  benefit  for 

of  the  tender 

0  speak  of  his 
Robertson  to  be 
te  man's  Will 
ircle  was  held. 
Dgate  of  New 
780. 

nt,  and  I  ap- 
B,  my  mother ; 
Y  uncle ;  John 
ve  executors  I 
dre,  my  sister, 
harine  Andre, 
»Villiam  Lewis 
But  the  condi- 
s  to  my  afore- 

1  shall  pay  to 
)f  ten  pounds 
,  Jr.,  of  Dyers 
[  give  to  John 
nds.     I  desire 

friend,  Peter 
Walter  Ewer, 
'pection  of  my 


403 


papers,  letters,  manuscripts.     I  mean  fh«f  \     i 
inspection  of  them  wi.h  lih    .  \    T  ^'^  Imve  the  first 

he  thinks  proper  and  I  d.  "^  '^^^'^'"^  ^^  '^^^'»  ^^^^^v- 
And  I  lasUyX'  and  be.  !, ""^  ^''''  ^^  '^  ^'^'^»  '^  him. 
Andre  the"^.!  due  of  a  Hm  \^'  "^  '"""^  ^^^"  ^--^ 
my  hand  and  ea,  S Lten  r[  T^  "^^"^^^^-  ^'^"^^ 
York,  North  AmtrT^h'te,'  ^77^  ^^^^^"^^  ''  ^^^ 

John  Andr£. 
Captain  in  the  26th  Regiment  of  Foot. 

Smith  say/f "  No  ll„lt     'T"  ""'*  "  ""S^"--    J"^'""" 

.1.0  whole  glrirVSrf  "■"  "™"='='  """  ^"""'"O 
countenanc!  ,  e  whole  ™/  3  T"""".'  ""'  ^•'"^"" 
.inction,  went  i„.„  JlTn".^'  Mtr^!:";  /  ,">"  «-'  *- 
(lie  signs  of  ciief  tl,,.  .n„       j-    ,  """  "'"»  n>«ntions 

inNov%.heriirrntrrjritt?nr'''-»^ 

ploying  the  heated  animosity  of  his  men  o?,T  ™'  """ 

hlow.    "The  troops  at  New  W  Inh  f, ''"''"=''"S 

'ion  raised  such  an  outcrv  L  v  """'  "^  '"'  '''"='^''- 

.l.e  attack  of  WasL^S  t  mpTrr  r  '°  "^  '^''  '" 
Chief  could  hardiv  ke^„  .1,        '^'  -  "^  Comra^nder-in- 

pnne:  and  marX?:  nlnTr  :rSirr;  1  r^" 
army  at  least  equal  to  Washin^t^n',    ,,"   ®"  "™'T  '""* "" 

aX't:id^r:--^^^^^^^^^^^ 

P-ority      On  Urae^ t^  irirX  ^  f"" 
given  another  convincino-  nronf  fhaf  k    •  ^^  ^  ''"^ 

«ot  know  when  to  ac      lit         /  ''  T'''^  ^'^"  ^''^^ 
act.     After  this,  few  rebel  prisoners  will 


404 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


be  taken.     The  universal  cry  of  the  soldiers  at  New  York  is, 
Remejiber  Andr£  ! " 

But  if  Clinton  would  not  expose  his  men  to  a  doubtful 
enterprise,  he  was  not  unmindful  either  of  the  fame  or  the 
last  wishes  of  his  friend.  By  public  orders  his  memory  was 
released  from  any  imputation  that  might  arise  from  the  man- 
ner of  his  death. 

Head- Quarters,  New  York,  8  Oct.  1780.  The  Comman- 
der in  Chief  does  with  infinite  regret  inform  the  Army  of  the 
death  of  the  Adjutant  General  Major  Andre. 

The  unfortunate  fate  of  this  Officer  calls  upon  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief  to  declare  his  opinion  that  he  ever  considered 
Major  Andre  as  a  Gentleman,  as  well  as  in  the  line  of  his 
military  profession,  of  the  highest  integrity  and  honor,  and 
incapable  of  any  base  action  or  unworthy  conduct. 

Major  Andre's  death  is  very  severely  felt  by  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  as  it  assuredly  will  be  by  the  Army ;  and 
must  prove  a  real  loss  to  his  Country  and  to  His  Majesty's 
service. 


How  far  the  army  felt  their  loss  may  be  gathered  from 
Simcoe's  orders  to  his  own  regiment,  by  the  officers  and  men 
of  which  Andre  was  personally  known.  He  commanded 
them  to  wear  for  the  future  black  and  white  feathers  as 
mourning  for  a  soldier  "  whose  superior  integrity  and  un- 
common ability  did  honour  to  his  country  and  to  human 
nature.  The  Queen's  Rangers  will  never  sully  their  glory 
in  the  field  by  any  undue  severity:  they  will,  as  they  have 
ever  done,  consider  those  to  be  under  their  protection  who 
are  in  their  power,  and  will  strike  with  reluctance  at  their 
unhappy  fellow-subjects,  who,  by  a  series  of  the  basest  arti- 
fices, have  been  seduced  from  their  allegiance  ;  but  it  is  the 
Lt.  Colonel's  most  ardent  hope,  that  on  the  close  of  some 
decisive  victory,  it  will  be  the  regiment's  fortune  to  secure 


it  New  York  is, 

1  to  a  doubtful 
he  fame  or  the 
lis  memory  was 
!  from  the  man- 


The  Comman- 
le  Army  of  the 

upon  the  Cora- 
3ver  considered 
the  line  of  his 
ind  honor,  and 
luct. 

t  by  the  Com- 

he  Army ;  and 

His  Majesty's 


gathered  from 
fficers  and  men 
[e  commanded 
te  feathers  as 
2grity  and  un- 
md  to  human 
lly  their  glory 
,  as  they  have 
protection  who 
;tance  at  their 
le  basest  arti- 
! ;  but  it  is  the 
close  of  some 
une  to  secure 


the  murderers 
nation 


FEELINGS  EXCITED  BY  THE  EXECUTION. 
Of  Major  Andrd,  for  the  vengeance  due 


405 
to  an 


injured  nation  and  an  insulted  array"* 
In  En^and    the  feeling  was  bitter  and  lasting.     Despite 

be  glad  ,0  have  ven^nee  forS^^jo^A^d  Jtuo^lT  17 
(a  e.,ar.o.er  who  earned  a  dirty  sub.is.e„ce  byZ^^nJ^, 
who    r„s,ed  hto,  whether  English  or  French^  a,  hTrLcd 
he  b  ood-money  for  which  he  had  jus,  sworn  a  vly  the  Tit 

and  an  acve  whig  through  all  the  war;  and  that  h    hL  1  f 

suicl7r?r  "1"'  '""  '''  ^^™^'  ^'^  Proceedinrw 
u.p,cious  ni  the  extreme.     Like  Andre,  he  Jmd  been  aide 

to  the  commander-in-chief,  and  also  deputy-adjutant  geUll! 

that  Mr.  Andr^  was  to  be  miS  o  Miss  K  "'""t""  T  "  '  "^^^''  ^^^^^^ 
doubtedly  had  since  her  reignTlIr  D—  a;^;,  ^"^"  ^'^'''  '^'  ^''  ""- 
at  Germantown.    Since  that  fhn  xvn.nT"'  ^  ^°""^  "'^^'^''  ^^o  ^11 

time  I  saw  her,  I  was  olX  toll       I "''''""  ''^  ''''  ''''''    '^^«  ^'^' 
and  so  I  entered  it  in  n^kT  o  t^o trCl'^ 
vcunteers,  whom  I  forget:  to  two  or  t    eT  aft ^  tha^    ,''!;  "J  *''  ^^  ^• 
mams  in  'single  blessedness.'    I  nevr  heard  of  AnT"  ,'  '""  "■'■ 
mother,  nor  of  the  picture     Onp  r.;  V  Andre's  letter  to  his 

gage,4ich  his  minTh;rbelsuErt,:rt"^'"r'^t""'  ^"  '"'^  ^"^- 
view  up  the  North  River     ST^^      5        <^«««  *«  Perform :  a  striking 

death:  LcharactrwalTehneatd  and  hisTV?"'  -to  n.ouming  on  hi! 
an  unaffected  gloom  h^TlZTn,!  5  '  ''™'°^''^ '"  «^"«™J  orders: . 

Mr.  A7~.  so  cMed    rfor  b     '""^'^''  '"'"'  ^'^''^  »"^  »«^«r  was 

tion.''-Ms.rXX?ori:N:;"s:sr^^«  "'^  -"-"-^  --«. 


406 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


Ln  -,   V 


and  it  was  thought  he  would  make  a  capital  pendant  to  the 
Englishman.  He  was  at  once  arrested  on  a  charge  of 
treasonable  practices  and  thrown  into  gaol.  By  his  own 
account  he  was  treated  with  humanity,  and  Mr.  West  rep- 
resented his  case  to  the  king.  "  I  pity  him  from  my  soul," 
said  the  monarch.  —  "  But,  West,  go  to  Mr.  Trumbull  imme- 
diately, and  pledge  to  him  my  royal  promise  that  in  the 
worst  possible  event  of  the  law  his  life  shall  be  safe."  Really 
Trumbull  had  committed  no  offence  since  his  arrival :  but  as 
he  had  no  right  to  be  in  England  at  all  save  as  a  prisoner,  it 
was  seven  months  ere  he  was  released  on  surety  to  leave  the 
kingdom  and  not  return.  And  in  October,  1782,  a  travelling 
American,  awakened  as  he  slumbered  in  his  carriage  by  the 
shouts  of  a  party  of  armed  horsemen  who  swore  to  hang 
some  object  of  their  wrath,  avows  that  his  first  impression 
was  that  he,  though  in  no  way  connected  with  Andre's  death, 
was  now  to  expiate  it  by  bis  own.  It  is  to  the  pervading 
interest  that  attached  itself  to  Andre's  story,  and  the  roman- 
tic character  of  his  career,  that  the  origin  of  the  ghost-stories 
about  him  may  be  attributed.  There  is  yet  another  con- 
nected with  him  : 

"  Miss  H.  B.  was  on  a  visit  to  Miss  Andre,  and  being 
very  intimate  with  the  latter,  shared  her  bed.     One  night 
she  was  awakened  by  the  violent  sobs  of  her  companion,  and 
upon  entreating  to  know  the  cause,  she  said,  '  I  have  seen 
ray  dear  brother,  and  he  has  been  taken  prisoner.'     It  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  inform  the  reader  that  Maj.  Andre  was 
then  with  the  British  army,  during  the  heat  of  the  American 
war.     Miss  B.  soothed"  her  friend,  and  both  fell  asleep,  when 
Miss  Andre   once  more  started  up,  exclaiming,  '  They  are 
trying  him  as  a  spy,'  and  she  described  the  nature  of  the 
court,  the  proceedings  of  the  judge  and  prisoner,  with  the 
greatest  minuteness.      Once  more  the  poor  sister's  terrors 
were  calmed  by  her  friend's  tender  representations,  but  a 
third  time  she  awoke  screaming  that  they  were  hanging  hitn 
as  a  spy  on  a  tree  and  in  his  regimentals,  Avith  many  other 


ill 


HONOBS  BESTOWED  ON  ANDEfrs  MEMORV.        407 

dm,n,..ances!_ There  »aa  no  »ore  sleep  for  the  friends- 
'hey  got  up  and  entered  each  in  her  own  pocket-b«,k  ,h„' 
pamcular.  stated  by  the  ter^r-strieken  sis.erf^fh   ht^at 

:nto:itr:,nLr^^:^,''°'''"^ ''■«^^^^ 

in  those  days,  could  cross  TAtUnl  t  'fatalTdin"  ""^ 
and  to  the  deep  awe  as  well  as  ^'grfeft  theZntT' 

.cs  ever,  oircuntstance  was  exaetl,  1„;;ar.ed t'the^  Z 
had  been  shadowed  forth  in  the  fond  sister's  sleepinrfenc^ 

r   're'^rT:'  ■>"  «"e  very  day  preceding  .renlg    :^' 

.£hy  H^^sC rr  y::-^^^^^ 

father  and  daughter,  who  have  all  given  to  the  puMc  many 
— .ng  events  in  the  brilliant  hut  brief  care'er  of  l^^^ 

sidLuon'!?'!:''''  '"  'l■^^""^''  government  that  in  con- 
^n^TZ     .        ">''S"""-'e  of  Andrew's  attempted  service 
and  he  disastrous  fate  with  which  his  efforts  were  crowned 
nothtng  was  wanting  to  testify  either  its  care  for  hUftme' 

lam  St.  George,  Chnton's  aide,  delivered  that  general's  de 

The  unexpected  and  melancholy  turn,  which  my  ne^olia- 
T  ""' «^>'^7l  Arnold  took  with  respect  to  my  A^ul 
General,  has  filled  my  mind  with  the  deepest  concet      He 
was  an  active,  intelligent,  and  useful  officer;  a  "d?™^! 
gentleman  of  the  most  promising  hopes.     Therefore   as  h! 
has  unfortunately  fallen  a  sacriliee  to' his  great  .el 'for  the 
Kings  serv.ce,  I  judged  it  right  to  consent  to  his  wish  i„H 
mated  to  me  in  his  letter  of  the  29th  Sept.,  of  „h  cIl  have 
.c  honor  to  inclose  your  lordship  a  copy',  Ihat  his  Company 
«h,ch  he  purchased  should  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  hi, 
mother  and  sisters.    But  I  trust,  my  lord,  that  your  olhip 
V.     thmk  Major  Andre's  misfortune  still  caLs  for  s^me 
fi.«her  support  to  his  family,  and  I  beg  leave  to  make  ifmy 


408 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR6. 


humble  rsquest,  that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  recom- 
mend them  in  the  strongest  manner  to  the  King,  for  some 
beneficial  and  distinguishing  mark  of  His  Majesty's  favor."  * 
What  was  asked  was  granted.  The  king  is  said  to  have 
instantly  ordered  a  thousand  guineas  from  the  privy  purse  to 
be  sent  to  Mrs.  Andr^,  and  an  annual  pension  of  £300  to  be 
settled  on  her  for  life  with  reversion  to  her  children  or  the 
survivor  of  them  :  and  after  knighthood  was  proffered,  on  the 
24th  March,  1781,  in  memory  of  his  brother's  services,  the 
dignity  of  a  baronetcy  of  Great  Britain  was  conferred  upon 
Captain  William  Lewis  Andre  of  the  26th  Foot,  and  his 
heirs  male  forever.f  A  stately  cenotaph  in  Westminster 
Abbey  also  preserved  the  remembrance  of  the  life  and  death 
of  Major  Andre.  Hither  Arnold  was  once  observed  to  lead 
his  wife  and  to  peruse  with  her  the  inscription  that  referred 
to  the  mo^t  important  scenes  in  his  own  career. 

Forty  years  later,  the  pomp  and  ceremony  with  which  the 
remains  of  the  brave  Montgomery  were  publicly  brought 
from  Canada  to  New  York,  called  the  attention  of  the  British 
consul  at  that  city  to  the  fact  that  the  dust  of  another  who 
too  had  borne  the  king's  commission,  and  whose  first  cap- 
tivity had  graced  Montgomery's  first  triumph,  still  filled  an 
unhonored  grave  in  a  foreign  land.  He  communicated  with 
the  Duke  of  York,  Commander  of  the  Forces,  and  it  was 

*  MS.  Sir  II.  Clinton  to  Lord  G.  Germain  (Separate)  New  York,  12  Oct. 
1780,  S.  P.  O.  On  the  11th,  Clinton  wrote  the  general  story  of  his  deal- 
ings with  Arnold.  "  The  particulars  respecting  the  ill-fated  ending  of  this 
serious,  I  may  say  great  affair,  shall  be  detailed  in  a  Narrative  —  wherein 
all  papers  and  letters  connected  with  it  shall  be  inserted."  This  Narrative 
has  not  been  printed,  but  I  have  freely  used  all  its  facts  in  the  text  of  this 
work. 

t  A  tombstone  in  Bathhampton  church-yard,  near  Bath,  has  this  inscrip- 
tion: "Sacred  to  the  Memory  of  Louisa  Catharine  Andr^,  late  of  the 
Circus,  Bath:  Obit.  Dec.  25,  1835,  aged  81.  Also  of  Mary  Hannah 
Andr^,  her  sister,  who  died  March  3, 1845,  aged  93  years."  Sir  William 
Lewis  Andr6,  the  brother,  married:  and  surviving  his  son  of  the  same 
name,  who  was  a  director  of  the  London  Assurance  Company,  died  at  Dean's 
Leaze,  Hants,  11th  Nov.  1802,  when  the  title  became  extinct. 


[Iness  to  recom- 
King,  for  some 
yesty's  favor."  * 

i3  said  to  have 
!  privy  purse  to 
1  of  £300  to  be 
children  or  the 
>roffered,  on  the 
r's  services,  the 
conferred  upon 

Foot,  and  his 
n  Westminster 
e  life  and  death 
observed  to  lead 
n  that  referred 
r. 

with  which  the 
iiblicly  brought 
n  of  the  British 
of  another  who 
'hose  first  cap- 
,  still  filled  an 
municated  with 
es,  and  it  was 

^ew  York,  12  Oct. 
story  of  his  deal- 
ted  ending  of  this 
irrative  —  wherein 
"  This  Narrative 
in  the  text  of  this 

h,  has  this  inscrip- 
ndr^,  late  of  the 
of  Mary  Hannah 
irs."  Sir  William 
;  son  of  the  same 
ny,  died  at  Dean's 
inct. 


ANDRfi'S  REMAINS  REMOVED  TO  ENGLAND.         40D 
decided  10  remove  A„dri's  corpse  to  England.   The  Rev.  Mr. 

t°eT„t,"      """T'"'"  ""'  g^^-^'g"™  rcndy  assent  .0 
he  consul  s  proposals.     "  His  intentions  had  beco4  known," 

S,r  ;*""'"'=»»  ™'«'--"  some  human  brute -some 
Chnsfan  dog  had  sought  to  purchase  or  to  rent  the  field 
of  Mr.  Demarat,  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  money  for  ner- 

T^Z'ITZ"  "■""  f  "•.  I'" '•- g-^  "«■"  a-dT™ 
power.      On  Fnday,  August  10th,  1821,  at  eleven  a.  m 
the  work  was  commenced  not  without  fear  that  it  would  te 
m  vam  :  for  vague  whispers  went  around  that,  years  before 
the  grave  was  despoiled.    At  the  depth  of  three  feet,  the 
pade  struck  the  coffin-lid,  and  the  petfect  skeleton  was  si 
exposed  to  v.ew.    Nothing  tangible  remained  but  the  bre" 
and  a  few  locks  of  the  once  b...™tiful  hair,  together  with    " 
eather  «>.d  that  had  bound  the  queue,  and  ;hich  was  s  „ 
by  Mr.  Buchanan  to  the  sisters  of  the  deceased.    An  atten- 
t.ve  crowd  of  both  sexes,  some  of  whom  had  probably  beh  W 
the  execution,  was  present. 

"The  farmers  who  came  to  witness  the  intereslin"  cere- 
mony generally  evinced  the  most  respectful  tendernL  for 
the  memory  of  the  unfortunate  dead,  and  many  of  the  ehil- 

FZr^l\  ,  ^,  '"""'  """"''""'  ''y  -i'itia  tt^ining  and 
Foura,  of  July  declamation,  began  to  murmur  that  the  mem- 
cry  of  General  Washington  was  insulted  by  any  respect 
shown  to  the  remains  of  Andr^,  but  the  offer  o?  a  tS 
lured  them  to  the  tavern,  where  they  soon  became  too  drunk 
to  guard  the  character  of  Washington.  It  was  a  beautiful 
day,  and  these  disturbing  spirits  being  removed,  the  impres- 
sive ceremony  proceeded  in  solemn  silence  "  •  • 

J!  ^^^  "Tl"'"  i',  "■""'  ""'"  ™'"'"g  swaggerers  were  all 
«l.o  did  not  cheerfully  encourage  .he  proceeding..     Ladies 

•  So  repeats  Mrs.  Cliilds  (Eeltcre  from  New  Yorkl  wl,„  h™    i .  .     ., 
scene  .  solemn  convicUon  thai  Andre's  dauVti  J  °  oo7;,°  "l° 


'    ll 


410 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


sent  garlands  to  decorate  the  bier :  even  the  old  woman  who 
kept  the  turnpike-gate  threw  it  open  free  to  all  that  went  and 
came  on  this  errand ;  and  six  young  women  of  New  York 
united  in  a  poetical  address  that  accompanied  the  myrtle- 
tree  they  sent  with  the  body  to  England. 

The  bones  were  carefully  uplifted,  and  placed  in  a  costly 
sarcophagus  of  mahogany,  richly  decorated  with  gold  and 
h«ng  with  black  and  crimson  velvet ;  and  so  borne  to  New 
York  to  be  placed  on  board  the  Phaeton  frigate  which,  by  a 
happy  significancy,  so  far  as  her  name  was  concerned,  had 
been  selected  for  their  transportation  to  England.  Two 
cedars  that  grew  hard  by,  and  a  peach-tree  bestowed  by  some 
kind  woman's  hand  to  mark  the  grave,  (the  roots  of  which 
had  pierced  the  coffin  and  turned  themselves  in  a  fibrous 
network  about  the  dead  man's  skull,)  were  also  taken  up. 
The  latter)  was  replanted  in  the  King's  Gardens,  behind 
Carlton  House. 

In   his   account  of  the  exhumation  the  consul  in  warm 
phrase  expressed  his  conviction   that  the  body  had  been 
robbed  of  its  clothing  by  our  people.      It  was  reasonable 
that  he  should  think  so:  for  Thacher,  an  eye-witness  and 
minute  chronicler  of  the  transaction,  believed  positively  that 
Andr^  was  buried  in  his  uniform ;  of  which  not  a  vestige, 
not  a  solitary  button,  was  found  when  the  grave  was  opened. 
But  there  is  abundant  contemporaneous  proof,  American  and 
English,. that  Laune  obtained  his  masters  regimentals  after 
he-  was  put  in  the  shell,  but  before  he  was  laid  in  earth.     In 
correcting  his  own  error,  Thacher  set  Buchanan  right.     In 
gratitude  for  what  was  done,  the  Duke  of  York  caused  a 
•  gold-mounted  snuff-box  of  the  wood  of  one  of  the  cedars  that 
grew  at  the  grave  to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Demarat ;  to  whom  the 
Misses  Andre  also  presented  a  silver  goblet,  and  to  Mr. 
Buchanan  a  silver  standish. 

A  withered  tree,  a  heap  of  stones,  mark  the  spot  where 
the  plough  never  enters  and  whence  Andre's  remains  were 
removed.     The  sarcophagus  came  safely  across  the  sea,  and 


)ld  woman  who 
1  that  went  nnd 
I  of  New  York 
ed  the  myrtle- 

iced  in  a  costly 
with  gold  and 
borne  to  New 
ate  which,  by  a 
concerned,  had 
ngland.  Two 
towed  by  some 
roots  of  which 
}s  in  a  fibrous 
also  taken  up. 
irdens,  behind 

nsul  in  warm 
3dy  had  been 
vas  reasonable 
re-witness  and 
positively  that 
not  a  vestige, 
e  was  opened. 
American  and 
'imentals  after 
in  earth.  In 
lan  right.  In 
rork  caused  a 
he  cedars  that 
;  to  whom  the 
,  and  to  Mr. 

le  spot  where 
remains  were 
i  the  sea,  and 


BUKIED  IN  WESTMINSTER  ABBEY. 


411 

forly-one  years  and  more  after  they  had  been  laid  by  the 

fa  d  bv  tl.""''"'^""^  reinterred  in  a  very  private  manne 
hard  by  the  monument  in  Westminster  Abbey.     The  Dean 
o    Westmmster  superintended   the  religious  offices    wh.le 

for  iTsis^s  f]^^^''-'  ''  ^--^^^^  Hospital, 
In  the  south  aisle  of  the  Abbey  wherein  sleeps  so  much 

monument.     It  ,s  of  statuary  marble  carved  by  Van  Gelder 
I  presents  a  sarcophagus  on  a  moulded  paneC  base  and 

memory  of  Major  John  Andre,  who,  raised  by  his  merit  at 

he  ShTces^'  T'  *^. '''  ^'^"^  ^'  AdJuta'nt-GeneT:!  of 
tne  ^ritish  forces  m  America,  and,  employed  in  an  important 

Kmg  and  Country,  on  (he  2d  of  October,  1780,  aged  twentv 

tie  served,  and  lamented  even  by  his  foes.     His  gracious 

bre::2"''"^"  ""^^^^^  '"•'  ^^-^  ^^-^^^  *^'«  ----"": 

M^o A' fT. '''"'"  ^''^'  ""'''  "^'^^^  ••  "'^''^  remains  of 
Major  John  Andre  were,  on  the  10th  of  August,  1821  re- 

moved  from  Tappan  by  James  Buchanan,  Esq.!  his  majestyl 

consul  at  New  York,  under   instructions  from  hiT  Ca 

and  Chapter,  finally  deposited  in  a  grave  contiguous  to  this 
monument,  on  the  28th  of  Novembert  1821." 

The  monument  stands  seven  and  a  half  feet  hicrh  in  relief 
aga^st  the  wall,  beneath  the  sixth   window  ofle   sotll  ' 
a.»le.     The  projectmg  figures  of  the  sarcophagus  represent 
a  group  m  which  Washington  and  Andr^  are^conspLous 
ho  former  nj  the  act  of  receiving  from  a  flag  of  truce  a  letter 

P  -r  ''J'^'Ty  """''^  '^  ''^""'^y  '^^'  "^  ^'"^ti  the  prisoner 
P  t.noned  to  be  shot,  and  more  reasonably,  the  demand  of 
tlmton  for  h.s  release.     Britannia  with  a  verv  lu-nbno„. 


412 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDR£. 


lion  reposes  on  the  top  of  the  cenotaph.     On  the  whole,  the 
work  13  not  a  triumph  of  the  sculptor's  art. 

Hard  by  the  spot  are  the  monuments  of  Roger  Townshend 
and  of  Howe,  whose  lives  were  lost  in  the  same  scenes  where 
Andrd   first  lost  his  liberty  :    and  those  of  Sir  Cloudesley 
Shovel,  Wolfe,  Warren,  Stuart,  and  other  British  warriors 
whose  history  is  interwoven  with  that  of  America,  rls«;  under 
the  same  roof.     The  covert  sneer  with  which  Addison  refers 
to  many  of  the  tombs  in  this  Abbey  can  have  no  just  relation 
to  the  funeral  honors  of  such  characters  as  these.   "They  put 
me  in  mind  of  several  persons  mentioned  in  battles  of  heroic 
poems,  who  have  sounding  names  given  them  for  no  other 
reason  but  that  they  may  be  killed,  and  are  celebrated  for 
nothmg  but  being  knocked  on  the  head."    A  man  can  hardly 
do  more  or  better  than  die  for  his  country. 


frJ 


ti  the  whole,  the 


oger  Townshend 
me  scenes  where 

Sir  Cloudesley 
British  warriors 
erica,  rise  under 
I  Addison  refers 

no  just  relation 
2se.  "  They  put 
)attles  of  heroic 
:m  for  no  other 
3  celebrated  for 
man  can  hardly 


CriAPTKR    XXII. 

"ur  utntrais.  —  Kcflections  ou  AndrtS's  Fate. 

»r„ut  il  1   r       "■"■■  ""'  '■"  """""on  justifiable? 
are  questions  tl.at  fourscore  years  have  left  where  they  were 

proprie  y  of  the  sentence ;    an  American  writer  has   nro 
nonnced  .,  a  deliberate  murder;  yet  most  of     cse  IZ 
to  havelnown  very  inaccurately  the  facts  of  a  case  Ton 
wluch  they  have,  sometimes  with  much  ele-ance  Ind  vT^or 

ZZn  Vf'^'   "r'""-      W-'-botfam   anln^^h 
cergyraan,  Hmton  a  painstaking  annalist,  are  satisfied  that 
all  «as  done  lawfully.     Coke  was  an  officer  of  ,h    43th  .  ve 
mJTZ  '  ?  .""''^f ."""  "-  ™'e^  of  war  were  not  S 

y     admitt^^t  ^h  T"'""'  '!•■""='•  """  "'  «  y""'S  ™«n  not 
yet  adm.tied    o  the  bar,  ,s  of  more  weight:  ho  wrote  while 

!d  wlrrf  '"  "''  ''''  '■"'^'"S^"-  "-  ""  ='=  »eigt 
tTenfeatfr,  ,.  TfT'  ''"'  '«=  J"'''"'^  the  sentence  on 
the  plea  that,  though  Andre  was  taken  on  neutral  ground  ho 

conduct  with  whtch  he  was  armed  was  issued  by  one  whom 
e  knew  to  be  a  traitor,  for  „o  other  end  than  to  brin.  tZ 
eason  to  a  successful  conclusion.     Mackinnon,  of  theclld 

1  »  fate,  and  this  gentleman's  rank,  and  the  summary  of 

ta    esti  °  ''"  '""""^""t     ^"'^''"'^  decision  is  partieuhrly 
nr^resttng.     He  w.as  the  personal  friend  of  Andr.S's  sistera 
»nd  represented  them  at  the  reinterment,  ip  W«.tm  n  ■  - 


414 


LIFE  OF  MAJOU  ANDIil 


^ 


S 


Abbey.  He  had  therefore  peculiar  opportunities  of  hearing 
evidence  in  favor  of  AndrtJ.  Immediately  after  the  cere- 
mony, he  published  his  conviction  that  Andre's  conduct  had 
undoubtedly  fixed  on  him  the  character  and  exposed  him  to 
the  punishment  of  a  spy.  He  also  justified  Washington's 
inflexibility  by  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  the  ab- 
solute necessity  to  the  American  cause  of  a  terrible  example. 
Other  critics  of  less  note  subscribe  to  these  general  senti- 
ments, or  modify  their  decrees  to  the  idea  of  Charles  Lamb, 
when  he  speaks  of  "  the  amiable  spy,  Major  AndrtJ."  And 
the  books  of  Miss  Seward  and  Mrs.  Childs,  published  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  ocean,  fully  justify  Tallmadge's  declara- 
tion, that  had  the  verdict  been  left  to  a  jury  of  ladies  the 
prisoner  was  sure  of  an  acquittal. 

In  America  there  has  been  but  one  leading  opinion  ex- 
pressed oh  the  subject.  The  action  of  its  authorities  has 
never  been  impugned  save  in  the  instance  adverted  to  above. 
It  is  true  that  the  majority  of  writers  have  not  investigated 
the  point :  but  their  inferences  entirely  coincide  with  those 
of  Marshall,  Sparks,  Biddle,  and  Irving,  who  were  compe- 
tent as  any  in  the  land  to  arrive  at  just  conclusions.  And  it 
is  to  be  remarked  that  the  Englishmen  who,  by  the  course 
of  events  or  their  own  application,  have  attained  a  degree  of 
infornration  on  the  question  commensurate  with  that  possessed 
by  our  own  chief  historical  authorities,  are  not  less  decided, 
albeit  widely  differing  in  their  determinations.  Let  us  first 
look  at  the  views  of  such  as  by  convenience  of  time  and 
place  got  their  impressions,  as  it  were,  at  the  fountain-head. 

Of  the  conclusions  of  the  leaders  of  our  own  army,  little 
need  be  said.  The  finding  of  the  court  of  inquiry  and  its 
confirmation  by  "Washington  sufficiently  indicate  the  sense 
of  our  generals.  That  of  the  enemy  was  diametrically  op- 
posite ;  although  from  Clinton's  omission  to  publicly  im- 
pute unsoundness  of  judgment  or  improper  motives  to  his 
adversaries,  it  was  inferred  in  this  country  that  he  acquiesced 
in  the  justice  of  the  sentence.     I  must  confess  that  Sir  Hen- 


lities  of  hearing 
after  the  cere- 

'o*s  conduct  had 
exposed  him  to 

id  Washington's 

se,  and  the  ab- 

errible  example. 

e  general  senti- 
Charles  Lamb, 

'  And 


re 


,{ '» 


And 
b,  published  on 
nadge's  declara- 
ry  of  ladies  the 

ing  opinion  ex- 
authorities  has 
v^erted  to  above, 
not  investigated 
cide  with  those 
10  were  compe- 
usions.  And  it 
),  by  the  course 
led  a  degree  of 
!i  that  possessed 
3t  less  decided, 
s.  Let  us  first 
ce  of  time  and 
3  fountain-head. 
)wn  army,  little 
inquiry  and  its 
icate  the  sense 
iametrically  op- 
o  publicly  ira- 
motives  to  his 
,t  he  acquiesced 
s  that  Sir  Hen- 


CLINTONS  ACCOUNT  OF  AKNOLD'S  AFFAIR.        415 
ry's  general  orders  of  Oct.  8tli    1 7ftn   ,      1 1 

subject  were  esspnfmiiv  4i.„  .        ^  ^muon  on  tnis 

imrton  "   %*!  ^""^^  f '>^  ^''«  «nme  as  those  of  General  Wash- 

paragraph  —  « Ignorance  of  whole  f mnsnn 

8m  ncNnv  cl.nton's  account  or  Arnold's  Ar.Am. 
(From  his  MS.  Histoiy  of  He  War,  Vol.  II.  p. «.) 

enfZT^M^^^-    '^'"""  "'S'"'^™  «"""«  before  the  pres- 

Great  Britflin  ..  ii  ^     u  "^  J°'"'"S  the  cause  of 

mention,  and  as  I  thought  it  possible  that  like  another  Gen- 


if 


416 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


eral,  Monk,  he  might  have  repented  of  the  part  he  had  taken, 
and  wish  to  make  atonement  for  the  injuries  he  had  done  his 
Country  by  rendering  her  some  signal  and  adequate  benefit, 
I  was  of  course  hberal  in  making  him  such  offers  and  prom- 
ises  as  I  judged  most  likely  to  encourage  him  in  his  present 
temper.     A  correspondence  was  after  this  opened  between 
us  under  feigned  names ;  in  the  course  of  which  he  from 
time  to  time  transmitted  to  me  most  material  intelligence ; 
and,  with  a  view  (as  I  supposed)  of  rendering  us  stilf  more 
essential  service,  he  obtained  in  July,  1780,  the  command  of 
all  the  Enemy's  forts  in  the  Highlands,  then  garrisoned  by 
about  4000  men.     The  local  importance  of  these  posts  has 
been  already  very  fully  described  in  the  last  Volume  of  this 
History ;  it  is  therefore  scarcely  necessary  to  observe  here 
that  the  obtaining  possession  of  them  at  the  present  critical 
period  wouM  have  been  a  most  desirable  circumstance  ;  and 
that  the  advantages  to  be  drawn  from  Mr.  Arnold's  having 
the  command  of  them  struck  me  with  full  force  the  instant  I 
heard  of  his  appointment.     But  the  arrival  of  the  French 
armament,  the  consequent  expedition  to  Rhode  Island,  and 
the  weakness  of  my  own  force  together  with  the  then  daily 
increase  of  Mr.  Washington's,  obliged  me  to  wait  for  some 
more  favourable  opportunity  before  I  attempted  to  put  that 
gentleman's  sincerity  to  the  proof. 

In  the  mean  time  wishing  to  reduce  to  an  absolute  cer- 
tainty whether  the  person  I  had  so  long  corresponded  with 
was  actually  Major  General  Arnold  commanding  at  West 
Point,  I  acceded  to  a  proposal  he  made  me  to  permit  some 
officer  in  my  confidence  to  have  a  personal  conference  witli 
him,  when  every  thing  might  be  more  explicitly  settled  be- 
tween us  than  it  was  possible  to  do  by  letter,  and  as  he 
required  that  my  Adjutant  General,  Major  Andre,  who  had 
chiefly  conducted  the  correspondence  with  him  under  the 
signature  of  John  Anderson,  should  meet  him  for  this  pur- 
pose on  Neutral  Ground,  I  was  induced  to  consent  to  his 
doing  so  from  my  great  confidence  in  that  officer's  prudence 


t  he  had  taken, 
le  had  done  his 
lequate  benefit, 
[fers  and  prom- 
1  in  his  present 
pened  between 
which  he  from 
il  intelligence ; 
f  us  still  more 
le  command  of 
garrisoned  by 
hese  posts  has 
/"olume  of  this 
'  observe  here 
present  critical 
irastance ;  and 
mold's  havinjr 
e  the  instant  I 
jf  the  French 
Je  Island,  and 
he  then  daily 
wait  for  some 
id  to  put  that 

absolute  cer- 
Bsponded  with 
ding  at  "West 
'  permit  some 
'nference  with 
:ly  settled  be- 
r,  and  as  he 
dre,  who  had 
m  under  the 
for  this  pur- 
ansent  to  his 
3r's  prudence 


CLINTON.S  AOCOrax  OF  ARNOLD'S  Am.U.         417 

•'■ough  tl,e  plan  had  been  „eS/^7 """■-'"•  ^"^ 
frustrated  by  some  „„,owa«i  Tee  dem  '  n,T  ""''  "°""""^ 
had  very  nearly  cost  Mr.  Arno  d  h  ]if  tT  '  ""r  "'  """'' 
ments  made  him  of  ooi.r=„  „    .•  '""^  d'sappoint- 

anxious  ,0  forward  the  exit      T'  ''  """  ''  ^  "<»'  "^'"^ 
bave  that  naval  ehief  ?,3  ?  "^  ^"'^'"'  *'"'•=  ^  ™"I'l 

as  the  Expedi  io  to  the  0"°''  ""t  ""'"'  ^"  «~^  »  ""'k 
make  ever/requi  te  '  1  ''"P'?"?  *'"'=''  """W'^'l  ™o  <» 
consented  ',0  ™:h  r^prptrf:!'"";  "'""i  ""''"'^'  ' 
Major  Andre  to  ro  to  Mm  hv      .     .     '""'■■''  ^™'''  «»• 

boat  whieh  be  wouV  ,im:if  l::'I.  7™  T  ""^  '"  " 
Truce.     For  I  could  hnZ  '""'  ™<'"=''  a  Flag  of 

consequence  ^Z^ZIZ^Zm  ■"'''''  """  ""^  " 
a  mode,  ..s  I  had  given  i    in  1        ^T  '^'"^"^  '''"''  ™cb 

by  which  the  nalurerhrr,'^  '"''.''""'''"■  °f'"i«"?^ 
understood  that  Zr  I  is  B„f  ^''^  "«'"  '"  •™='"''  »"<'  I 
sent  back  in  the  same  ;arT  "1  '"1""  "=  ™'  '°  "« 
precautions  were  obscrvX  on  M  ™  P""^  ""^  "^  "■-= 
"Old  for  reasons  wb  he'  ud,M  ■°"'™''^'  ""'"''''  ^■- 
(wbich  is  the  most  nrobable^'  ?  ""'""■"'"''  "'•  Pcrbaps 
presence  of  mind    houi^"^      7f  """  """"""  '"«  -al 

ing  Major  Andr  ■'hiekt  Wat  r  ^d  ^  ""i  '/''""  °^  ^""'■ 
rather  compelled  him     •'^  ^  "7'^' ""''  Prevailed  upon  him,  or 

Offleer-s  letter  „  m  to  paTt"  t,"';'"'"'  "^  """  ""''"^'"^'c 
borrowed  disguise  ,«  take  I  I  I"  ™"^™'  =""'  ""''"^^  » 
"'rough  the  Posts  If   he  F  T  '■°""=  '"  ^''^  ^ork 

l-spm-t.  The  eon"  eauent  ''  T'^""  "'°  ^^"'^"™  "^  '>- 
•I'at  he  was  stopped  nrT„  /™'  ^"^  ""'S'"  '"=  ^^Pocted) 
papers  being  frn/rbJrh'^"'"''  »"<!  searched,  and  certain 

^lauding  his  passnorn  °        7  """"''"'''  '■"  ™  ("°'w«b- 

lleasnres  were  of  cmL       "?•«''  '"''  ™""  ""'' ''"'■'''^• 

seize  Gene^lArnoM^bJT^f'^'y  "''^™  "P""  "'-  '» 

^.nold  ,  but  that  officer  being  fortunate  enough 


if"" 

I'i  i  L. 
1!i  mB 


■■i: 


IIB 


418 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDIi£. 


to  receive  timely  notice  of  Major  Andre's  fate  effected  hia 
escape  to  a  King's  Sloop  lying  off  Taller's  Point,  and  came 
the  next  day  to  New  York. 

I  was  exceedingly  shocked  by  this  unexpected  accident, 
which  not  only  ruined  a  most  important  project,  which  had 
all  the  appearance  of  being  in  a  happy  train  of  success,  but  in- 
volved in  danger  and  distress  a  confidential  friend,  for  whom 
I  had  (very  deservedly)  the  warmest  esteem.     Not  imme- 
diately knowing  however  the  full  extent  of  the  misfortune, 
I  did  not  then  imagine  the  Enemy  could  have  any  motive  for 
pushing  matters  to  extremity,  as  the  bare  detention  of  so 
valuable  an  officer's  person  might  have  given  him  a  great 
power  and  advantage  over  me ;   and  I  was  accordingly  in 
hopes  that  an  official  demand  from  me  for  his  immediate  re- 
lease, as  having  been  under  the  sanction  of  a  Flag  of  Truce 
when  he  landed  within  his  posts,  might  shorten  his  captivity, 
or  at  least  stop  his  proceeding  with  rigour  against  him.     But 
the  cruel  and  unfortunate  catastrophe  convinced  me  that  I 
was  much  mistaken  in  my  opinion  of  both  his  policy  and 
humanity.     For  delivering  himself  up  (it  should  seem)  to 
the  rancour  excited   by  the  near  accomplishment  of  a  plan 
which  might  effectually  have  restored  the  King's  Authority 
and  tumbled  him  from  his  present  exalted  situation,  he  burnt 
with  a  desire  of  wreaking  his  vengeance  on  the  principal 
actors  in  it;  and  consequently  regardless  of  the   acknowl- 
edged worth  and  abilities  of  the  amiable  young  man,  who 
had  thus  fallen  into  his  hands,  and  in  opposition  to  every 
principle  of  policy  and  call  of  humanity  he  without  remorse 
put  him  to  a  most  ignominious  death  ;  and  this  at  a  moment 
when  one  of  his  Generals  was  by  his  own  appointment  in 
actual  Conference  with  Commissioners  whom  I  had  sent  to 
treat  to  him  for  Major  Andre's  release. 

The  manner  in  which  Major  Andre  was  drawn  to  the 
Enemy's  Shore  (manifestly  at  the  instance  and  under  the 
sanction  of  the  General  Officer  who  had  the  command  of 
the  distriei)  and  his  being  avowedly  compelled  by  that  ofli- 


fate  effected  hia 
Point,  and  came 

;pected  accident, 
oject,  which  had 
1  success,  but  in- 
friend,  for  whom 
sm.     Not  imme- 
'  the  misfortune, 
e  any  motive  for 
detention  of  so 
en  him  a  great 
3  accordingly  in 
is  immediate  re- 
a  Flag  of  Truce 
:en  his  captivity, 
ainst  him.     But 
Inced  me  that  I 
1  his  policy  and 
should  seem)  to 
iment  of  a  plan 
king's  Authority 
uation,  he  burnt 
111  the  principal 
>f  the   acknowl- 
oung  man,  who 
osition  to  every 
vithout  remorse 
his  at  a  moment 
appointment  in 
I  I  had  sent  to 

5  drawn  to  the 

and  under  the 

e  command  of 

ed  by  that  oHi- 


I-ORD  CORNWALLIS'S  OPINION.  419 

Opinion  ..p,,.i„g  i,  njf:it:ri:  h  it"r"  °'  ^^^'^ 

ing  possessed  himself  of  .),.  „  , .     ™P™<'ence  of  hav- 

business  ....'d-e.  l^Jl  ite"  ^wtGe™'";?^  '"" 
were  not  wanted  (as  thev  m„.t  ^    '"',™"''  General  Arnold, 

-.ion.     For  .l>eA^*Toti  ttuhatThV"  "''•"'''■ 
over  every  narf  nP  tu^  '©"orant  ttiat  I  had  myself  been 

*™g  neeessar,  for  lilL^t' 277:''''  'Z'' 
Washington  ouaht  also   .„  t.„  °'  '^™-     Mr. 

never  in  any  one  in,hn  ?  ■^membered  that  I  had 

(within  n,7p:;r:rD:"r  h  1.  •■"  '''■^'""''^  C"'™'^' 

several  shewn  the  ,n„s.  h„^    '        °"  ""^  contrary  had  in 
even  in  favour  of  a  oTed    "es"  T""" '"  ''''  -"''--- 
eruel  a  manner  i„  oliZa   to  '^  ^    ^^  '''"''''''  '»  "^ 
could  not  but  exeite  !«»?,?„        ?^  *''™''"  «°«eiWions 
as  no  advantage  wiatvereould';:''"'."""''™^'  ''«P'^'=''"'^ 
Cause  f,.m  puWng     eobi    t  of  b  ""f  ^.'^  '^^"'"^  '•>  '"^ 
l-e  be  insensible  (  ha^  he  ,t        T  '"  '^'""''-    ^"^  ^-M 
his  own  breast)  tha  le  e.llleT'  T'  "'  """o"'  '» 
and  ignominious,  would  neve??  !'        f  ""'"  ""  "^^We 
treading  i„  the  slme  st""  „t      "  ^"'"^''  ««"=«'  "<»>' 
Country  wouM   reo^ire   h^'  '      "   ''"'"''  "'  '"'^ 

■Jangerin  such  a  w!"     Bnuir'T'-"^  '™'^''  '"  "'^  '^^ 
10  proceed  _  nor  eal  ^i         "''•""-■'  ^'^'"^  »«  'oo  deeply 

valuable  young  „fa„,  who  if  11  fX --'''<'  and 
dowraents  of  Ediinnf;««       j      «uuinea  with  the  rarest  en- 

eould  not  but  hte  lin"1  .   '^"'  ^"'   ^^^^   ^«   ^'-d) 
profession!!!-!!        "''"'^  ^"  ^'''^  ^"'S^^^^t  honours  of  his 


'      l#l 


Tlie  Marquis  Coniwallis  was  not 


at  New  York  when  the 


420 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR£. 


catastrophe  occurred,  nor  does  he  seem  to  have  been  one 
of  Clinton's  admirers  or  Arnold's  supporters  in  the  royal 
service :  but  he  was  undoubtedly  well  informed  of  the  facts 
of  the  case,  of  which  he  expresses  himself  thus :  — 

"  The  sad  episode  of  Major  Andre  took  place  in  this  year. 
The  details  need  not  be  given,  but  it  may  be  observed  that, 
among  the  members  of  the  court  by  which  he  was  tried, 
were  two  foreigners,  ignorant  of  the  English  language,  and 
several  of  the  coarsest  and  most  illiterate  of  the  American 
generals.  Doubts  have  been  entertained  whether  Wash- 
ington had  timely  information  of  the  requests  and  remon- 
strances made  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who,  had  he  been 
disposed  to  retaliate,  could  easily  have  selected  among  his 
prisoners  Americans  deserving  the  name  of  spy  much  more 
justly  than  Major  Andre.  In  any  case  the  execution  of 
that  officer  leaves  an  indelible  blot  on  the  character  of 
Washington."  * 

Whether  or  not  Beverly  Robinson,  as  is  said,  distrusted 
the  safety  of  Andre's  leaving  the  Vulture,  it  is  clear  from 
his  letter  and  Sutherland's  that  these  officers  considered  him 
unlawfully  detained,  and,  of  consequence,  unlawfully  done 
to  death.  Robertson's  emphatic  assertion  of  the  erroneous 
finding  of  the  court  of  inquiry  will  also  be  borne  in  mind ; 
and  his  proffer  to  die  himself  if  Knyphausen  and  Rocham- 
beau  would  not  agree  with  him.  What  the  first  might  have 
thought  we  do  not  know :  the  tendency  of  the  last  may  be 
guessed  from  his  own  recorded  words.  Andre  deserved  a 
better  fate,  he  thought,  but  the  severity  of  the  laws  and  the 
necessity  of  an  example  enforced  his  condemnation.  His 
Aide,  Count  Mathieu  Dumas,  afterwards  lieutenant-general,  is 
more  explicit.  He  says  Andre  having  come  to  Arnold  in  a 
peasant's  disguise  was  justly  condemned  and  executed  as  a  spy. 

*  Corr.  Corn.  i.  78.  In  1791  the  marquis,  as  governor-general  of  India, 
exchanged  official  compliments  with  our  President;  though  "he  himself 
continued  in  troubled  waters,"  he  said,  he  wished  "for  General  Washing- 
ton a  long  enjoyment  of  tranquillity  and  happiness."  AVash.  in  Doiu. 
Life,  57. 


have  been  one 
s  in  the  royal 
led  of  the  facts 
lus:  — 

ice  in  this  year. 
3  observed  that, 
I  he  was  tried, 
I  language,  and 
'  tlie  American 
vhether  Wash- 
5ts  and  remon- 
,  had  he  been 
;ted  among  his 
spy  much  more 
B  execution  of 
le  character  of 

said,  distrusted 
t  is  clear  from 
considered  him 
inlawfully  done 
the  erroneous 
jorne  in  mind ; 
I  and  Rocham- 
rst  might  have 
he  last  may  be 
ire  deserved  a 
e  laws  and  the 
jmnation.  His 
nant-general,  is 
to  Arnold  in  a 
ecu  ted  as  a  spy. 

r-general  of  India, 

High  "he  himself 

General  Wasliing- 

Wash.  in  Doiii. 


CON-KUCT,NO  OPINIONS  ON  ANDRfrs  SKNTENCE      421 

-in  reciting  the  opmions  of  such  nf  th^  «.  ^ 

acquainted  wi,h  the  facts  of   I.e  ease   t    t  oTs"''  "  """ 
not  be   ignored      Tl.i.     ,.,..,,'  '""'°f  Simcoe  must 

«.o™ug,„;:';ttiea ';«  irXtT" "" "°'  --^ 

point  l,e  seem   ,0  Lve"^  T'      ''""■"  "  "'  ''"S"''     On  one 

very  questionable:  as  has  been  said  I  brerl    i  '>         ' 

unnecessary  deed "     On„  L    ,f     „      ^"^'""g'™  'o  (lie 
"certain  imeli  Ince  -  It  if   ,  T"  I""" ''^  8°'  ""^ 

conduct  of  our  d"ieft  :_  ''"  '""'  '"=  -'■'^"''^  "'  "« 

there  was  not  an  I"  1^1  1'  ,  "'°'' °^  ^"^''"^ '  '""'• 
would  not  have  be  n  lad  '  '  /  '  '  T™^.  "''"^^ '^-'^ '' 
offered  to  ,nit  the  2^^  oTltt  tl'T  ''"•™'; 
lo  receive  lliem  •  =o  th.,f  .I,-  =",*''  *"  ''»*«  negotiated 

jn.PH  have  p.e™:e:r  ;::r:f  z'tr'oir 

sidered'a-^in  tli     ?•     .^  ''^•'  ''"'''■'"•'"  ''  ^''"»  ^^  con- 
a„.-,n,st  h„  slipulafon,  intention,  and  knowledge,'  iie 


III! 


'i.:!i,!I;iaiRr.ffiM 


iii  /.i;||t' 


422 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


became  absolutely  a  prisoner,  and  was  forced  to  change  his 
dress  for  self-preservation,  it  may  safely  be  asserted  that  no 
European  general  would  on  this  pretext  have  had  his  blood 
upon  his  head.  He  fell  a  victim  to  that  which  was  ex- 
pedient, not  to  that  which  was  just :  what  was  supposed  to 
be  useful  superceded  what  would  have  been  generous ;  and 
though,  by  imprudently  carrying  papers  about  him,  he 
gave  a  colour  to  those,  who  endeavoured  to  separate  Great 
Britain  from  America,  to  press  for  his  death,  yet  an  open  and 
elevated  mind  would  have  found  greater  satisfaction  in  the 
obligations  it  might  have  laid  on  the  army  of  his  opponents, 
than  in  carrying  into  execution  a  useless  and  unnecessary 
vengeance. 

"  It  has  been  said,  that  not  only  the  French  party  from 
their  customary  policy,  but  Mr.  Washington's  personal  ene- 
mies urged  him  on,  contrary  to  his  inclinations,  to  render 
him  unpopular  if  he  executed  Major  Andre,  or  suspected  if 
he  pardoned  him.     In  the  length  of  the  war,  for  what  one 
generous  action  has  Mr.  Washington  been  celebrated  ?  what 
honourable  sentiment  ever  fell  from  his  lips  which  can  in- 
validate  the   belief,   that    surrounded   with   difficulties   and 
ignorant  in  whom  to  confide,  he  meanly  sheltered  himself 
under  the  opinions  of  his  oflScers  and  the  Congress,  in  per- 
petrating his  own  previous   determination?  and,  in  perfect 
conformity  to  his  interested  ambition,  which  crowned  with 
success  beyond  all  human  calculation  in  1783,  to  use  his  own 
expression,  '  bid  a  last  farewell  to  the  cares  of  office,  and  all 
the  employments  of  public  life,'  to  resume  them  at  this  mo- 
ment (1787)   as    President  of  the  American   Convention? 
Had  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  whose  whole  behaviour  in  his  pub- 
lic disappointment,  and  most  afflicting  of  private  dispensa- 
tions, united  the  sensibility  of  the  Friend,  with  the  magna- 
nimity of  the  General,  had  he  possessed  a  particle  of  the 
malignity  which,  in  this  transaction,  was  exhibited  by  the 
American,  many  of  the   principal   inhabitants  of  Carolina 
then  in  confinement,  on  the  clearest  proof  for  the  violation 


I    I 


to  change  his 
jserted  that  no 

had  bis  blood 
which  was  ex- 
as  supposed  to 
generous;  and 
ibout  bim,  be 
separate  Great 
et  an  open  and 
sfaction  in  the 
his  opponents, 
id  unnecessary 

ch  party  from 
personal  ene- 
ons,  to  render 
Dr  suspected  if 
,  for  what  one 
ebrated  ?  what 
which  can  in- 
lifficulties  and 
Itered  himself 
ngress,  in  per- 
nd,  in  perfect 
crowned  with 
to  use  bis  own 
office,  and  all 
jm  at  this  mo- 
Convention  ? 
r  in  his  pub- 
'ate  dispensa- 
h  the  magna- 
article  of  the 
ibited  by  the 
I  of  Carolina 
the  violation 


CltARACTER  OF  OUR  GENERALS.  403 

of  Washington.".  ^      Pass  judgment  on  the  eharacter 

offlcift  iafwi  x";::; : :  '"""'""%°^  '"^^  e-^'"- 

own  ffeneral,      f     i  ^      ,         ""  "PP"'*"' '»  "'»»<=  of  our 

uTdef  theT  ^ircl  ,at:  th  "f^  '°'""  '""  '-"P"™- 
sentiment,  by  reason  of  .he      ''"^''''^.f '-l  '*="  "'«  British 

its  exponents'^  wa,  m„re  like.v  trb"        ""''  '""''''=''«=  "^ 

education  hai  not  suffl4    I^   rn'^^eTtH;''"'  "T  V' 

in  the  prineiples  of  intematinTlat    ^  ^'"T,""'"  ''''''''"^ 

»e  -Lis  day  the  question  ough  to  le  ^.her  ast,,''""      "' 

ness  of  their  decision  .han^heirmnrs,   ?lt  rrr 

may  be  as  well  to  glance  hastily  JT   ■  ''"'  " 

ing  the  «.n,p„sitioLf  the     t      GoorTT-"''"^"''- 

•ainly  the  best  we  had  in  an  a^y 'of  ^^^  CU^^ZT 

the  generals  were  distinguished  for  .I,.-      ^f '""^  '^^tifies 

and  was  raised  from  tho  i-nnt.  „f        ™™iea  to  Loston, 

colonial  raajor-generlv      '""^' "^  ^  ""'■"»  ""npany  to  a 

•MIJ  ^<=neralcy.     The  case  is  not  singular.     It  „as 

brave:  but  unsUiZ/r:", ''.tSr.'  t"  Sod  sfat"''/™"'  ■"- 


('11°: 


424 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRlS. 


a  smith  that  led  the  Turks  from  the  slavery  of  the  Altai 
Mountains  to  royal  njreatness ;  and  for  centuries  the  exercise 
of  anvil  and  sledge  preserved  the  memory  of  the  deeds  that 
changed  the  forge  for  the  throne.     The  abrupt  translation  of 
the  stuttering  Michael  from  the  cinders  of  his  smithy  to  the 
porphyry  palaces  of  the  Eastern  Empire  furnishes  history 
with  one  of  its  most  glaring  illustrations  of  the  mutability  of 
fortune  and  the  blindness  of  the  popular  will.     The  black- 
smith's apron  that  commemorated  the  imperial  origin  long  led 
the  Persians  to  victory,  until  the  jewels  with  which  it  con- 
tinued to  be  embroidered  entirely  hid  the  leather  from  view. 
Greene's  was  one  of  those  cases  in  which   promotion  was 
born  of  merit,  and    the  general's  worth    obscures    his    un- 
professional origin.     Though  self-educated,  the  advisers  of 
his  studies  were  President  Stiles  and  Lindley  Murray.     His 
reading  wrts  thorough  rather  than  large.     His  military  text- 
books were  Cresar's  Commentaries,  Plutarch,  Turenne's  Me- 
moirs, and  Sharpe's  Military  Guide:   but  he  was  familiar 
with  IJIackstone  and  with  Ferguson's  Civil  Society,  and  I 
am  able  to  state   positively  had  carefully  read  over  Vattel. 
To  his  capacity  in  the  field  Tarleton  bears  ample  testimony ; 
and   it   is   odd  that  the  beginning   and  the  ending  of  hi? 
campaignings  should  involve  the  idea  of  a  spy.     To  pro- 
cure arms  to  use  against  the  English,  in  1774  or  1775  he 
slipped  into  Boston,  watched  the  discipline  of  the  troops  at 
their  morning  and  evening  parades,  and  whe;    he  smuggled 
out  a  musket  and  accoutrements  htf  broujiht  a  deserter  aloni^ 
as  a  drillmaster  to  the  militia  corps  with  which  he  served. 
In  Carolina,  he  employed  a  young  lady  on  secret  services  of 
the  greatest  danger  without  scruple ;    and  after  the  evac- 
uation of  Charleston  towards  the  end  of  the  war,  ^\hen  the 
whig  governor  arrested  Captain  Ker  and  his  crew  who  had 
come  with  a  flag  to  Greene,  he  called  a  council  of  officers 
and  with  their  concurrence  enforced  the  flag-party's  release 
by  an   armed  demonstration   on    the   place.     This   circum- 
stance tends  to  show  that  Greene  understood  the  nature  of 


f  of  the  Al(ai 
!s  the  exercise 
the  deeds  that 
;  translation  of 
i  smithy  to  the 
rnishes  history 

mutabihty  of 
1.  The  black- 
origin  long  led 

which  it  eon- 
her  from  view, 
promotion  was 
cures  his  un- 
le  advisers  of 
Murray.  His 
1  military  text- 
rurenne's  Me- 
!  was  familiar 
Society,  and  I 
d  over  Vattel. 
)le  testimony ; 
ending  of  hip 
spy.  To  pro- 
4  or  1775  he 

the  troops  at 

he  smuggled 
deserter  along 
ch  he  served, 
•et  services  of 
'ter  the  evac- 
var,  when  tlie 
crew  who  had 
icil  of  officers 
larty's  release 
This  clrcum- 
the  nature  of 


CIIAIUCTEKS  OF  OUR  GENERALS.  405 

blood  and  had  ineffectuan^^acVfo; Z^ari  oZatr",' 
ways  claimed  as  his  righ.  J  inheritance     ttZ^^^:! 

Yoric  sSy  Library    and  ;.::*'  '"  '"""*""  "'^  ^- 

«:;  ar!:r  ;r  t::;^^-,r  t'r 

adds- «Tn  i.:c  ,  *^'o""y  ot    his   rank,   but 

able '^d     r  '"?  Pr'"™'  ^PP'^'"-''"^  >"^  lordship  is  v4ner- 

conri^ ,'  I   ,  .r'"^""""'  P''^"''"'   »"■'   in<eresting/  His 

Co"    hat      clsTT  ^P^"'^"/-""-"  ■'y  Andr/in  T  „ 
l.o«hase.     Chastellux  mentions    the  same  infli-mity,  hut 

*  It  may  be  added  that  Greene  was  nnf«^  f     *u 
which  he  checked  the  disorders  of  M,  .  ,^'  Prompt  severity  with 

ecution  proves  how  fir^  he  warin  -     ''"™""^^--  «»^l  '""^e  than  one  ex- 
war.    A  good  idea  o7the  ZZ  '^'^'''\'''^  ^he  legitimate  disciphne  of 

^^  theif  proposfd  eLlnirrrtrSilTf  f^  0%"^.Tr^  T 
tl.e  penalty  prescribed  ''^  ^tate.  should  be  clearly  defined,  and 


426 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


says  he  was  very  brave,  zealous,  sensible,  and  oC  informa- 
tion ;  though  without  capacity,  old,  and  dull.  He  certainly 
was  sincere  and  steady  in  his  devotion  to  our  cause. 

St.  Clair,  harrj  in  Scotland  in  1734,  had  a  thoroughly  liber- 
al educal.oii  ;.)  ovi-  of  the  best  Scottish  universities.  He  was 
intended  for  inciiicine,  but  his  taste  being  for  arms  he  ob- 
tained a  commission  through  the  influence  of  his  elevated 
connections,  and  came  to  America  with  Boscawen  in  1755. 
He  was  a  lieutenant  under  Wolfe  and  esteemed  a  very 
meritorious  officer,  capable,  of  i  caching  great  military  dis- 
tinction. He  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  Fort  Ligo- 
riier  in  Pennsylvania  ;  and  retiring  from  the  army  after  the 
Peace  of  1763,  filled  some  important  civil  offices  in  that 
province.  In  March,  1774,  Governor  John  Penn  wrote  to 
Lord  Dunmore:  — "Mr.  St.  Clair  is  a  gentleman  who  for 
a  long  time  had  the  honour  of  serving  his  Majesty  in  the 
regulars  with  reputation,  and  in  every  station  of  life  has 
preserved  the  character  of  a  very  honest  man."  * 

La  Fayette,  born  in  1757,  is  too  well  known  to  ask 
many  words  here.  His  education,  civil  and  military,  wag  as 
good  as  his  years  would  permit.  He  was  brave  and  intelli- 
gent, and  covetous  of  popular  applause.  In  1 787,  Jefferson 
wrote  that  he  had  an  undue  love  of  popularity.  This,  and 
his  hatred  to  England,  led  him  into  such  escapades  as  his 
to   Lord    Carlisle   for 


challenge 


language    u-^ed 


regardinjr 


*  St.  Clair's  fate  was  a  hard  one  and  unmerited.  After  having  served 
in  almost  every  American  siege  or  action  of  consequence  in  the  Seven 
Years'  War,  and  abandoning  an  estalc  in  Scotland  to  take  up  arms  in  our 
Revolution,  his  honour  was  wofully  impugned.  He  was  court-martialled 
by  Congress  for  neglect  of  duty,  cowardice,  treachery,  &c. ;  and  though  of 
course  acquitted  (being  entirely  innocent)  his  feelings  were  naturally  stung. 
Sullivan,  too,  published  a  letter,  Aug.  6,  1777,  which  seemed  to  que  n 
his  fidelity,  until  he  disavowed  any  such  meaning,  Aug.  30.  '><t.  Clair 
arned  and  kept  Washington's  esteem ;  but  in  after-life  he  was  stripped  of 
his  appointments  by  government,  defrauded  of  his  rights,  and  lived  in  nl,i 
age  for  several  years  "in  the  most  abject  poverty."  Pennsylvania  ..au 
granted  him  a  pension  of  $650  yearly,  on  which  ho  wore  out  his  few  re- 
maining days. 


1  i 


nd  oi'  informa- 
He  certainly 
cause. 

loroughly  liber- 
iitics.  He  was 
r  arms  he  ob- 
if  his  elevated 
awen  in  1755. 
eemed  a  very 
it  military  dis- 
of  Fort  Lin;o- 
army  after  the 
offices  in  that 
Penn  wrote  to 
leman  who  for 
(lajesty  in  the 
m  of  life  has 
m.   * 

cnown  to  ask 
ilitnry,  was  as 
i^e  and  intelli- 
787,  Jefferson 
y.  Thi  \  and 
lapades  as  his 
led   regarding 

er  having  sen  ed 

re  in  the  Seven 

e  up  arms  in  our 

court-martiulled 

;  anil  though  of 

naturally  stun;?, 

med  to  que      n 

?.  30.     <t.  Clair 

!  was  stripped  of 

and  lived  in  "Id 

nnsylvania  ...cu 

!  out  his  few  re- 


CHARACTERS   OF  OUR  GENERALS. 


.'.o  ,hc  .,e    ,„£„',•?.  T.,''7''"  -i"  '-.  "'o  cany 

peo„Ie  rejoiced  oIl''Z„.ut^L\^rr        ^'T'""'  ""^ 
subjeel  of  a  de,not,<m     ,       "'""  """^  foreigner,  himself  ,l,e 

was  liberal  of  hi,  '"^on  Z   I        °  ^■"  "  '"'^  ""'••     "« 
name  wa,  belovedTv  ^'""'  '"  ""'  '"""■■' '""'  '"» 

cecded  in"^,'  „r  ";„J°:',i:'7  "fve  efll,r„,  h„vi„«  I,. 
"mt  ro.c  in  FrIneeTr  "  h  T  '"  """'""'  ""  ^'o™ 
aided  the  n,ovem  r.e  nI;'       ,  a""  "''  ""'''■  "'■"  '"«' 

"  trailer  ,o  hi,  ™,m  ry  „'d  fl!  f  "^'"'"""^  '''"""^'^  '"-» 
-e  was  elosely  i,::.^;,"  ^f'mT  '"  "'°  ''"^"'^• 
procure  ll.e  inlerce^sion  of  P  7  ■  •  ,  '"  *""  """'<'  '» 
».s  liule  reasoITo  ™„ o  f,Tf  T  ''"  """'""  '  >""  'h-« 
cause.  Pi-tserw   fee       •    ?.^""'""''^''«"'''  »P™'«  '"s 

i«o  p.egnant  words -"  Ken.eniber  Andre."* 
*  Anal.  Maff.  ij   170     Tn  tu    /-. 
rick  moved  tiiat  the  kinjbo  blorMT' ?"', '''  ''''^  «^"-  ^''^^'P"*- 
Im  for  La  Fay.tte  and  Lis  conipaniof      ^   T"'t'  ^'^^  "'^  ^«"'^  «*'  ««r- 
denunciator^  terms  against  ITiri       I      7^^'"'^"^'^  replied  in  most 
an'l  origin  of  innumfraSo^rar";' f  ""^  ^'V""  '"^^'^^  ^'^^  «"^h- 
^aid,  for  the  interference  of  one  newer  wlh      '  m'    ^^'  ""''^  P'-''«'''^"N  he 
of  a  third  was  "  the  case  o/the  ^nfr       .  ""'";^""  "'  ^''^^^''  "^  ^^e  sub  ect 
which  ^^    ;  now  so  frenuenl  5.  '''''T'']'on  of  the  late  court  of  France 
vour  o.-:.>  CharJT;,'^^  Xn"r  ''V'l  '"^  *^'-""i-',  ml* 
effectual   by  the  exertions  0     the    I"  I?  ^'"''^  ^'"^  ^"''"«>'  -"'^-^'•l 
continued,  claimed  La  Favet  as  a  t.\        ?""''  '^"'''"•"    ^^'•""^«.  he 
mstrumental  in  ^Lvating 'to  power  ZT/,  '  '''  ^^hbie  he  had  been 

volunteered  fo,  America  nn/-'  !T  ^''''■""'  of  sacriticing.  He  had 
tween  Engl.  ,.  ZZTco  afd'Tad  ^f 'if,'*^'""  any  hoftilities  be' 
sovereign.  After  citations  of  his  alk'ed  nr'  '^'''"'  ^'^  «^"  J*^'""' 
-ces  ia  his  own  cou„trv;B  l^^eXludT''?'"  r, """  ^^^"'^^ -«" 
humanity  by  supporting  an  application  likpfh  ''''"^''  '  '''  '"^"^^  my 
horrid  ruffian."  li.o  LtioT^TZ  J  ■^""'''''''''^^^^'^^^^^^^ 
a  curious  one  in  La  FayeUe's  life  U  •  TT'  ^^^ '  '^"^  "'«  ^^P'^^^'^  - 
I'iin  called  l,v  such  -vnes  "°'  *''^'"  Americans  have  hpa-i 


428 


LIFE  OF  MAJOU  ANDU15. 


i  1 


Of  Robert  Howe  not  a  grout  deal  is  known.  lie  was 
probably  an  Kn;^lishman  :  at  all  events  lie  was  in  the  Eng- 
lish serviee  before  the  war;  was  settled  in  North  Carolina; 
and  had  coinnianded  (I  think)  Fort  Johnslorl,  where  a 
garrison  of  ten  men  was  kept  np  in  time  of  peace.  Ho 
Was  an  early  and  active  whig,  representing  Brunswick 
county  ;  and  in  1775,  was  proclaimed  against  by  Gov.  Mar- 
tin as  "  Robert  Howes,  alias  Howe."  In  177G  Clinton  de- 
barked on  his  plantation  ;  and  specially  excepted  him  from 
grace.  He  is  described  by  Smith  as  a  good  oificer  and  a 
superior  engineer :  and  I  have  other  reasons  for  believing 
that  here  Smith  is  right.  Irvine  and  others  liowever  dis- 
trusted bis  general  capacity  in  a  serious  emergency.  It  is 
probable  that  Howe  had  all  the  book-learning  of  his  trade. 
His  years  were  doubtless  well  advanced  at  this  time,  and 
Chastelhix  pronounces  him  fond  of  music,  the  arts,  and 
pleasure,  and  of  cultivated  mind.  In  August,  1785,  lie 
was  appointed  by  Congress  to  treat  with  the  Western  In- 
dians. 

Steuben,  born  in  1730,  had  served  at  the  age  of  fourteen ; 
but  he  does  not  appear  to  have  held  higher  than  regimental 
rank  in  the  Prussian  army.  The  idea  of  his  having  been  a 
iavorite  general  of  the  great  Frederick's  is  all  a  delusion. 
He  was  an  honest  old  soldier  of  fortune,  and  a  singularly  ac- 
complished disciplinarian.*     His  review  of  a  brigade  would 

*  An  incident  at  Yorktovn  shows  his  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  laws 
of  war,  in  opposition  to  La  Fayette's.  lie  coinmandi-d  in  the  trenches 
when  a  flag  came  out  with  proposals  of  capitulation.  While  the  negotia- 
tion went  on,  La  Fayette's  tour  of  duty  arrived;  as  it  was  of  course  a 
point  of  honor  to  plant  our  flag  on  the  enemy's  fortress,  there  was  a  com- 
petition for  the  command  tliat  would  give  the  right.  Steuben  asserted 
that  having  received  the  flag,  he  was  entitled  to  retain  his  place  till  the 
negotiation  was  closed  either  bj-  surrender  or  renewed  hostilities.  La  Fay- 
ette denied  this,  and  marched  with  his  division  to  relievo  the  German: 
who  would  not  be  relieved.  La  Fayette  appealed  to  Washington:  the 
case  was  carried  to  Eochambeau  and  his  chiefs,  and  it  Avas  decided  that  the 
baron  was  right,  and  must  retain  the  command.  The  matter  does  not 
seem  to  have  ended  here.  Ensign  Denny  (apparently  of  La  Fayette's 
division)  was  detailed  to  erect  oiu*  standard  when  the  troops  entered  York- 


•wn.  III!  was 
\s  ill  llic  Eng- 
ui'tli  Carolina ; 
itorl,  where  n 
jf  peace.  Ho 
ig  Brunswick 
by  Gov.  Mar- 
G  Clinton  de- 
)tc(l  lum  from 
oiRcer  anil  a 
for  believing 
i  however  dis- 
rgcncy.  It  is 
g  of  his  trade, 
this  time,  and 
the  arts,  and 
jst,  1785,  he 
i  AVestern  In- 

e  of  fourteen ; 
an  regimental 
laving  been  a 
ill  a  delusion, 
singularly  ac- 
brigade  would 

lice  Avith  the  laws 
in  the  trenches 
hile  the  negotia- 
was  of  course  a 
tlierc  was  a  com- 
Stcuben  asserted 
his  place  till  the 
tilities.  La  Fay- 
vo  the  German: 
Washington:  the 
decided  that  the 
matter  does  not 
of  La  Faj^ette's 
ps  entered  York- 


C-'AnACTEKS  0.  OUU  CENKI.U.S. 


«lcml  (u  every  „,,„       ,  '""'"'''"  ^^'■> 

""K"on's  li,t  „.„„,,,  ^'  ^^J.",  7  ""'O  «-c.quirc,l.      Tl,e 
'«•■"'»  inquire.!  into,  „„,U,'   "  '     '  "'°  '"""•''''■•■''  "f 'I'o  n„ 

"-'^ins  ,I,e  t„,„„.     ('^,;  ,  ;"'«"'f  "■oom,,rel,e„,|i„,,„ 
i*'  ;l"«  '".o,,,,,  never  Z^^tJT"''  ""^  '''  '■^P'<-';^ 

"«  w«s  not  l,owever  on  Zi     ,,  """''"''se   of   o„r   ,o„„„,. 
""<>  f.  An,erio„  wouM  Ct  "i"  •""■'  "'"'  ^-  CC 

Moved  hy  l,i,  ,  1;?.^'"™"  .■■"'••    Steuben  „„s 

"J.  I'O  would  no,  se>u;i"t„  Z'  ^'•"•'""  »'•  ""J'-ian  of 

,^™-  Ois-ingui.,..  ,t     ,«:,   'r-'^  — .  in.,rueti„: 
'  "ow,„  nnd  esteemed  inm  mZ;!  '"';"f"»-  '»  "«"  of  In', 
»''"Pl;ng  I'-eseieneeof  ,var  toL    ,   '"'•''^■'•' "■""-'^killed  i„ 
'"J  ">o  nature  „f  ,|,e  eoumry  "'°f  "■■"?'"■  "f  !■«  follower, 
"suppose  „nu  ),e  did  not  p  J,.,„f ^'-^  '^  "»  «'«'.'y  reason 
"""ces  of  Andre's  case,  «C  fl  r'"''''"'"'  "'»  '•"eu™. 
"  nnpossible  to  save  i,i,n  "  „°1°    ,  '    '"  ™""ni'^orated.     "  J, 
"7-0';  but  in  „„  open  'n,:  ;  ;   r  ""■■""■     "  «»  p„,  „,  ,o 
I""  ■■•  premeditated  des^ntl  ,,"''' T''^'*"'"'' «™7''"-'- 
p|„„,;,„  "n"  to  deall,  eould  have  suffered  in  l,t 

to^n,  and  was  in  the  art  ^e    i 

•^■Ws   S(om,c„,  290    477       »,     ,  '"«>■  IIM. 


:  iSlE: 


430 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


Parsons  was  a  Connecticut  lawyer  before  the  war,  and  a 
graduate  of  Harrard  in  1756.     He  was  of  a  good  Massa- 
chusetts family,  and  in  1780  was  probably  about  forty  years 
of  age.     In  1775  he  was  settled  in  the  tenth  colonelcy  of  the 
continental  army  by  Washington,  albeit  he  had  headed  a 
remonstrance  of  the  Connecticut  line  to  its  legislature  against 
the  action  of  Congress  that  gave  precedence  to  Putnam  over 
Spencer.     They  "  had  no  objection  to  the  appointment  of 
Generals  Washington  and  Lee,"  but  apprehended  danger  to 
the  morals  and  discipline  of  the  line  by  Putnam's  superi- 
ority.    Memorials  of  this  kind  Washington  had  in  wise  aver- 
sion.     Parsons  was  a  man  of  parts. 

Clinton,  born  in  1737,  was  perhaps  of  the  same  blood  with 
Sir  Henry,  in  resisting  whom  he  had  been  severely  wounded. 
He  displayed  an  early  fondness  for  military  life,  and  served 
in  the  Sevtin  Years'  War.  He  excelled  in  the  exact  sciences 
and  was  father  of  De  Witt  Clinton.  In  1775,  he  was  with 
Montgomery,  and  his  name  heads  the  apology  by  which  that 
general  was  persuaded  to  resume  the  command  that  the  in- 
subordination  of  some  of  his  officers  had  provoked  him  to 
throw  up.* 

his  new  godfathei-.  '-I  am  well  settled,  general,"  quoth  he,  "  and  have  a 
7rtT  T:  I^^T«^^"«dn,.ysonafteryou,Slr."  "  I  thank  you,  mv 
friend;  what  name  have  you  given  the  boy  ?  "  "  I  called  him  Baron  '' 
was  the  answer;  —  "  what  else  could  I  call  him '  "  ' 

Jt^fTl'Xlf'^u '!"::■"'  '"'-^  '™'  clouded" by  pecuniary  distress,  it  is 
grateful  to  know  that  h.s  services  at  last  commanded  a  substantial  ac- 
knowledgment from  America  which  made  his  old  age  comfortable. 

nnrf        I         '  T  ^"""'"^  ^^^'^^''  ^^'^''''^   ^^  "'^  ^""^^^  »"ifO™S  which    a 

party  of  our  troops  wore,  and  by  the  name  of  General  Clinton,  did  not 
discover  h.s  position  fill  he  was  led  before  our  general.  He  then  swallowed 
a  silver  bulle  ,  but  an  emetic  bringing  it  back,  it  was  found  to  unscrew 

'oct  8°.f  mr  "  ^''' '"-  .^^  ^"^''""^^  ^^««^^^-  '■  ~  ^--^  ^ontsoZZ 

rJrt  t'  J:-  ,T  ^«'^'-^"<i  "othing  between  us  but  Ga<...  I  sin- 
cerely hope  this  /.«^  success  of  ours  may  facilitate  your  operations.  In 
answer  to  your  letter  of  the  28th  of  September  by  C.  C.  I  shall  only  say, 
I  cannot  presume  to  order,  or  even  advise,  for  reasons  obvious.  I  heartily 
wish  you  success.  Faithfully  yours,  H.  Clinton."  -  Taylor  was  hanged: 
Out  of  thine  own  mouth  shalt  thou  be  condemned,"  said  the  American 


he  war,  and  a 
I  good  Massa- 
3ut  forty  years 
oloneicy  of  the 
had  headed  a 
Mature  against 
'  Putnam  over 
jpointment  of 
ided  danger  to 
nam's  superi- 
in  wise  aver- 

me  blood  with 
rely  wounded. 
*e,  and  served 
ixact  sciences, 
,  he  was  with 
t)y  which  that 
1  that  the  in- 
voked him  to 


e,  "  and  have  a 
thank  you,  my 
d  him  Baron," 

ry  distress,  it  is 
substantial  ac- 
brtable. 

ifornis  which  a 
linton,  did  not 
then  swallowed 
md  to  unscrew 
rt  Montgomery, 
t  Gates.  I  sin- 
operations.  In 
shall  only  say, 
us.  I  heartily 
)r  was  hanged : 
the  American 


CHARACTERS  OF  OUR  GENERALS.        481 

-xt:  ■si-'„\tta -rise 

samael  Adams  they  were  at  once  discovered  in  our  army 

mand  of  the  arlillery  department,  and  under  direction  of 
Knox  a  system  of  fortifications  were  thrown  uprforBrs- 
ton  whose  strength  Howe  owned  at  sigh,,  without  venuril 
to  a  pracfcal  test.     Mrs.  Warren  attributes  his  advance 
ment  to  personal  rather  than  military  considerations     thoul 

01  vvashmgton  of  Itochambeau,  of  Dumas,  and  of  Eawdon 

Lt  foT  ""T'  O"^'"'-""-'  oO^ed  .<;  that  of  Chltl 
lux  as  to  h.s  understanding  and  information,  are  sufficient  to 
estabhsh  the  real  worth  of  his  character. 

Wover,  bom  about  1735,  was,  I  believe,  of  a  wealthv 
fem,  y  of  Marblehead.  He  took  an  early  share  in  ,be  cont^f 
D,mmufve  in  person,  he  was  active  in  habit  and  7Tc^ 
sold,er.    He  had  probably  been  a  shipowner  befo  e  theC 

posed  of  seafarmg  men.     It  was  one  of  the  first  tilled  „„  in 
Massachusetts,  and  when  taken  into  continental  pay  still  pre" 
erved  Us  efficiency.     The  rosier  of  officers,  S  It    Wl 
hams  and  Thomases,  offers  a  contrast  to  the  Jedid  1  Ibl 
and  Abyahs,  tlje  Penuels,  Melatiahs,  a.,d  Ameses,  ;t  t' 

or  the  roll  of  one  of  old  Noll's  evangelical  armies."  In  ser- 
vice .t  was  especially  exempted  from  the  sweeping  contempt 
l:  Ivtlr'^'n^  'he  shortcomings  of  some  o'f  iS  cou X'- 
raen  by  the  middle  and  southern  soldiery.  "Theonlvex- 
ception  I  recollect  to  have  seen  to  these  miserably  clstUuted 

ttJHi  "^ tT^"''-"'  ™^  "■"  '■^""™^"' "  «■""  "- 

--  'Wehcid.     There  was  an  appearance  of  discipline  in  this 


iff 


w 


432 


LIFE    OF    MAJOR    ANDUfi. 


corps ;  the  officers  seemed  to  have  mixed  with  the  world, 
and  to  understand  what  belonged  to  their  stations.  Though 
deficient,  perhaps,  in  polish,  it  possessed  an  apparent  aptitude 
for  the  purpose  of  its  institution,  and  gave  a  confidence  that 
myriads  of  its  meek  and  lowly  brethren  were  incompetent  to 
inspire.  But  even  in  this  regiment  there  were  a  number  of 
negroes,  which,  to  persons  unaccustomed  to  such  associations, 
had  a  disagreeable,  degrading  effect."  *  Glover's  command 
led  the  advance  in  the  passage  of  the  Delaware  at  Trenton, 
and  its  commander  was  never  found  rtmiss. 

Of  Patterson  I  find  nothing  beyond  Thacher's  record  of  a 
visit  to  his  quarters  in  1781,  when  "the  general  humorously 
apologized  that  he  could  afford  us  nothing  better  than  a 
miserable  glass  of  whiskey  grog." 

Hand,  born  in  Ireland  in  1744,  came  hither  as  surgeon's 
mate  to  the  18th  or  Eoyal  Irish  in  1774,  and  resigning  his 
commission,  practised  medicine.  He  had  applied  for  the  post 
of  Hospital  Director  when  Washington  (Oct.  12,  1775)  wrote 
to  Congress  that  he  was  ignorant  of  the  merits  of  the  respec- 
tive candidates.  He  was  named  second  lieutenant-colonel  of 
our  army  (Nov.  2,  1775)  in  Thompson's  Pennsylvania  regi- 
ment, whose  courage  before  Boston,  when  others  behaved 
with  backwardness,  was  specially  noticed  a  week  later  in 

*  Graydon,  148.    "These  were  the  lads  that  might  do  something'" 
cried  the  spectators,  as,  600  strong,  it  came  along  after  the  defeat  of  Long 
Island.    A  passage  in  the  citation  above  may  render  it  necessary  to  remark 
that  negroes  were  hardly  thought  worthy  to  share  in  the  struggle  fir  Inde- 
pendence.    The  Massachusetts  Provincial  Congress  (Oct.  1774),  being  re- 
quested in  its  efforts  to  preserve  its  constituents  from  slavery,  to  consider 
the  state  and  circumstances  of  the  Negro  Slaves  in  the  province,  refused  to 
entertain  tl  >,  question,  and  voted  that  "  the  matter  now  subside."    Accord- 
ingly, at  a  Council  of  War,  Oct.  8, 1775.  present  Washington,  Ward,  Lee, 
1  utnam,  Thomas,  Spencer,  Heath,  Sullivan,  Greene,  and  Gates,  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  to  reject  all  slaves  from  enlistment,  and,  bv  a  great 
majority,  to  reject  negroes  altogether.    At  a  conference  of  a  Committee 
from  Congress  and  the  civil  authorities  of  all  New  England  with  Washing- 
ton m  the  same  month,  it  was  agreed  that  negroes  sliould  be  altogether 
rejected  from  enlistment  in  our  army.  — ^w.   Arclt.  ith  scr.  iii.  1040 
1161.  ' 


with  the  world, 
itions.  Though 
jparent  aptitude 
confidence  that 
I  incompetent  to 
re  a  number  of 
ich  associations, 
over's  command 
are  at  Trenton, 

3r's  record  of  a 

ral  humorously 

better  than  a 

ir  as  surgeon's 
d  resigning  his 
ied  for  the  post 
2,  1775)  wrote 
of  the  respec- 
tiant-colonel  of 
isylvania  regi- 
thers  behaved 
week  later  in 

do  something!  " 
le  defeat  of  Long 
cessan'  to  remark 
struggle  for  Inde- 
.  1774),  being  re- 
ivery,  to  consider 
ovincc,  refused  to 
bside."  Accord- 
gton,  Ward,  Leo, 
ad  Gates,  it  was 
,  and,  by  a  great 

of  a  Committee 
d  witii  Wasliing- 
Id  be  altogether 


scr.   m. 


1040, 


CHARACTERS  OF  OUR  GENERALS.  433 

^^^^:'''"     ^^  ^'^^  "^^^  '''^^'^-  «^  ^^  ^"^-e's 
Huntington,  boi-n  in  1743  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  in 

1763,  was  a  merchant  of  good  estate  and  ancient  family  at 
Norwich,  and  was  son-in-law  of  Governor  Trumbull.  His 
manners  were  cold,  but  he  had  acknowledged  sense  and  in- 
formation  ;  and  his  virtues  must  have  been  remarkable,  smee 

hrou  h  he  terms  of  four  different  occupants  of  the  presi- 
dentml  cha,r  he  retained  the  coUectorship  of  customs  at 
New  London  from  1789  until  he  was  removed  by  death  in 

Stark  born  in  1728,  seems  to  have  had  but  a  rural  educa- 
tion     But  war  had  a  charm  for  hir.,  and  what  military 
knowledge    could   be  acquired   by  command  of  a  partisan 
company  m  the  Seven  Years' War,  he  doubtless  possessed. 
The  assumption  of  superiority  by  the  young  British  officers 
drove  him  to  resign ;  though  his  qualities  had  gained  him  the 
confidence  of  Abercrombie,  nephew  of  the  commanding,  gen- 
eral, and  of  tne  young  Lord  Howe.    He  was  a  hardy,  honest, 
self-willed  man  impatient  of  subordination  where  he  did  no 
hink  It  due.     Difficulties  on  this  point  sprung  up  as  soon  a 
he  joined  our  army  in  1775  :  and  later,  he  resigned  in  dis- 
content with  being  overslaughed  in  promotions.     He  only 
resumed  arms  in  the  service  of  New  Hampshire  on  the  ex- 
press condition  of  exemption  from  obedience  to  the  orders  of 
Congress.     The  public  confidence  in  him  was  so  great  that 
John  Langdon  gave  his  money,  his  plate,  and  his  merchan- 
dise,  to  set  on  foot  Stark's  opposition  to  Burgoyne  :  and  the 
Bennington  victory  was  of  such  moment  that  he  was  forth- 
with  made  a  continental  brigadier.     He  felt  the  hardship  of 
the  case,  but  united  with  his  brethren  in  the  judgment  that 
Andre  was  a  spy,  and  should  be  put  to  death  :  and  not  long 
after,  ,n  his  own  command,  hung  Lovelace  for  a  like  offence! 
He  ran  a  saw-mill  when  the  war  broke  out,-  and  is  described 
by  Ihacher  as  joining  to  an  unspotted  character  and  great 


431 


LIFE  OF  ILUOR  ANDRfi. 


private  worth,  neither  the  habits  nor  the  appearance  of  an 
officer. 

Such  was  the  constitution  of  the  board  that  pronounced 
on  Andre's  case.     If  some  of  its  members  may  be  found 

"Wise  without  learning,  plain  and  good, 

the  greater  part  by  far  must  be  confessed  to  have  been  of 
sufficient  education  and  of  military  training  *     Of  Washing- 
ton nothing  need  be  said :  but  can  we  suppose  that  if  he  an'd 
St.  Clair,  Stirling,  Clinton,  Howe,  and  Stark,  had  continued 
to  hold  the  king's  commission  from  the  Seven  Years'  War, 
and  now  sat  in  a  court  called  by  royal  authority,  their  deci- 
sion would  not  have  been  received  in  England  as  authorita- 
tive, especially  when  confirmed  by  the  concurrent  voices  of 
Steuben  and  La  Fayette.?    ^hat  the  English  leaders  sin- 
cerely thought  it  erroneous  in  principle  and  colored  with  pas- 
sion or  policy  may  not  be  questioned;  and  their  public  and 
private  respectability  enforces  our  attention  to  their  views. 
But  what  reason  is  there  to  suppose  that  prejudice  or  excite- 
ment should  sway  one  party  less  than  the  other?    Indeed 
the  case   appears   to  have  admitted  at  least  of  such  nice 
distinctions   that  we  cannot  refuse  the  attribute  of  perfect 
sincerity  to  both :  for  even  wiDiin  the  last  few  years,  the 
patient  investigation  of  two  calm  and  vigorous   minds  on 
either  side  has  left  the  question  exactly  where  it  was  before 
Lord  Mahon  is  satisfied  that  the  Americans  were  wron-. 
Major  Biddle,  whose  own  military  antecedents  give  weight 
to  his  conclusions,  is  convinced  they  were  eminently  right. 
It  might  seem  presumptuous  for  me  to  declare  positively  that 
either  side  is  in  error;  since  after  all  the  case  was  one  not 
covered  by  any  prescription  of  the  text-books  on  the  laws  of 
nations  or  of  war ;  and  therefore  was  apparently  to  be  gov- 
erned  by  the  deductions  of  a  military  tribunal  from  the  great 

•  My  friend  Major  Charles  J.  Biddle  has  already  so  satisfactorily  gone 
over  this  ground,  as  well  as  much  more  relative  to  the  subject  of  this  book, 
that  an  apology  is  almost  necessary  for  my  treating  of  it  at  all. 


I 


pearance  of  an 

hat  pronounced 
nay  be  found 


0  have  been  of 

Of  Washing. 

!  that  if  he  and 

had  continued 
m  Years'  War, 
I'ity,  their  deci- 
id  as  authorita- 
'rent  voices  of 
h  leaders  sin- 
lored  with  pas- 
eir  public  and 
o  their  views, 
dice  or  excite- 
iher  ?     Indeed 
of  such  nice 
ite  of  perfect 
Bw  years,  the 
)us  minds  on 
it  was  before. 

were  wronsr. 
i  give  weight 
linently  right. 
)osJtively  that 
!  was  one  not 
n  the  laws  of 
tly  to  be  gov- 
'om  the  great 

tisfactorily  gone 
ect  of  this  book, 
all. 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  CASE.  435 

general  principles  therein  laid  down.  For  it  is  not  evident 
that  Andre  entered  our  lines  in  disguise,  which  is  one  of  the 
o  tTsr"  ^^^^P^/-theenen.y:  and  the  suborn  n! 
of  a  hos  le  general,  though  protested  against  by  Vattel  as 
incompatible  with  personal   purity,  is  alTowed  to  be  in  ac 

LtTitT  ;"^""'r'  '^^•-  ^"^  ™-^  --  -"  e 

sa}  3,  ,s  It  fair  to  merely  accept  the  proposals  of  a  traitor. 

^'loZT:  'T'^  '''''  '''  ^^-^«  »^«-  attached  to  An. 
dre  8  character  has  in  a  measuro  clouded  the  judgment  that 
men  would  arrive  at  as  to  his  fate:  it  will  be  wellTherefore 
to  give  a  summary  here  of  the  facts  as  they  are  drawn  from 
the  story  of  not  one,  but  all  sides. 

Arnold  volunteered  to  surrender  West  Point  on  sufficient 
assurance  that  he  should  lose  neither  in  pocket  nor  in  ric 

t 'settle' t'bf     ""v   ''"^^"'^'  ^'"^  ^^"  «"-^  «^-^^  --t  him 
to  settle  the  prelimmaries.     By  Clinton's  order,  Andre  went 

ma  kings  ship  for  this  end,  expecting  the  interview  would 

occur  on  board,  or  at  least  under  a  /lag  of  truce  and  not  in 

our  hnes.     Arnold's  emissary  brought  him  from  the  Vulture 

m  h.s  uniform  and  with  a  safcconduct  from  that  general,  but 

under  a  feigned  name,  by  night,  and  with  a  watch-coat  cover- 

mg  his  person.     There  is  little  doubt  here  that  Smith  saw 

hm,  m  uniform,  and  that  he  had  no  intention  of  exposing. 

himself  to  any  other  risk  than  of  becoming  a  prisoner  of  war! 

He  came  ashoro  at  a  place  very  near  to  but  not  within  our 

Imes.     Here  Arnold  met  him,  and  well  knowing  his  name 

and  quality,  under  the  plea  that  he  could  not  possibly  return 

to  the  snip  that  night,  led  him  unawares  and  against  his  stip. 

ulation  within  our  picket  though  not  into  any  of  our  works. 

Andre  still  was  attired  as  when  he  landed.     He  remained 

concealed  for  nearly  a  day,  making  no  plans  or  observations, 

but  possessing  himself  of  all  the  information  Arnold  had  to 

g.ve.    For  what  end  is  not  accurately  known  (though  Arnold 

alleges  it  was  Id.  direction  that  they  should  be  thus  trans. 

muted  to  Clinton)  h.  took  several  important  papers  from  the 

American  general,  and  concealed  them  on  his  person.     Bv 


lImI 


i'jilllllll 


li    1    |m. 


S  ' 

1 

^  : 

■ ! 

^       ! 

■^ 

:| 

;^ 

'       ] 

1 

:1 1 

5 

SS 

^3 

'  i'  ! 

h 

•N      ! 

} 

1 

>3 

1 

^ 

) 

S^ 

s 

436 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


the  same  orders  he  disguised  himself,  and  abandoned  his  uni- 
lorm  ;  and  acting  in  every  respect  by  Arnold's  direction,  and 
under  his  safe-conduct  passed  through  our  lines  into  neutral 
ground,  bearing  an  assumed  character  both  in  dress  and  in 
name.  Here  he  was  taken,  having  from  before  he  entered 
until  after  he  left  our  limits  been  known  to  and  directed  by 
our  general  there  commanding. 

In  considering  these  facts,  i^  must  be  remembered  that  by 
Andre  s  own  avowal  he  was,  though  involuntarily,  an  im- 
postor ;  and  that  the  boat  carried  no  flag,  nor  did  he  suppose 
he  came  ashore  under  that  sanction.     This  last  declaration 
may  be  balanced  by  the  fact  that  he  did  not  then  believe 
he  was  to  be  brought  anywhere  but  to  neutral  ground :  but 
the  after-mcidents  are  not  thus  altered.     The  question  then 
arises  whether  Arnold  had  lawfully  the  power  to  secure  him, 
by  the  means  employed,  from  the  vengeance  of  the  Amer- 
icans .     This  is  a  point  that  military  men  must  solve.     Ar- 
nold had  undoubtedly  the  right  to  issue  safe-conducts  that 
would  protect  their  bearer  from  our   troops,  provided  the 
business  was  fair  to  our  country.     Had  he,  so  far  as  the 
bearer  was  concerned,  the  right   to  go  further  ?     How  far 
does  the  fact  that  Andre  was  inveigled,  as  it  were,  into  a 
position  that  left  him  no  other  means  of  extrication  than  such 
as  Arnold  prescribed  affect  the  merits  of  his  case?    And 
above  all,  was  or  was  not  the  safe-conduct  given  to  him  in  a 
teigned  name  when  he  was  to  come  ashore,  equivalent  to  a 
Hag? 

The  gist  of  the  American  opinion  seems  to  be  that  a  fraud 
of  this  nature  taints  everything  it  touches  ;  and  the  parties  to 
It,  It  at  all  they  are  compassed  by  the  letter  of  the  law,  arc 
justly  anienable  to  punishment.  Whether  Andre  therefore 
left  the  Vulture  under  sufficient  protection  is  an  important 
question.  Had  he  openly  borne  a  flag  of  truce  sent  either 
from  his  own  party  or  by  the  Americans,  he  could  unques- 
tionably have  passed  back  under  it  at  any  season.  A  fla^ 
gives  Its  bearer  the  sanctity  of  an  ambassador ;  the  violation 


andoned  his  uni- 
i's  direction,  and 
ines  into  neutral 

in  dress  and  in 
ifore  he  entered 

and  directed  by 

Jmbered  that  by 
jntarily,  an  im- 

did  he  suppose 
last  declaration 
ot  then  believe 
al  ground ;  but 
le  question  then 
r  to  secure  him, 
}  of  the  Amer- 
ust  solve.  Ar- 
e-conducts that 
',  provided  the 

so  far  as  the 
ler?  How  far 
it  were,  into  a 
ation  than  such 
is  case?  And 
ven  to  him  in  a 
quivalent  to  a 

be  that  a  fraud 
1  the  parties  to 
)f  the  law,  are 
ndre  therefore 
an  important 
ce  sent  either 
could  unques- 


iason. 


A  flag 


;  the  violation 


I 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  CASE.  437 

Of  Whose  safe-conduct  has  from  the  most  polished  nations  of 
antiquity  been  the  received  signal  for  rancorous  war.    "Men 
of  larentum,"  said  the  Roman  legate  to  the  Greeks  that 
mocked  at  his  defiled  garments  ;  -  it  will  take  not  a  little  blood 
to  wash  this  gown."     Even  the  wild  Arabs  of  the  desert  re- 
Hpected  the  safety  of  the  envoy  that  brought  them  the  most  in- 
suiting  missives  ;  and  beyond  making  him  swallow  the  scroll, 
ventured  on  no  personal  aggression :    and  the  red  Indian 
esteems  himself  in  perfect  security  when  he  advances  with 
the  calumet  m  hand.     In  fact,  a  flag  of  truce  is  the  substitute 
for  the  ancient  herald.     In  the  first  stages  of  our  war,  "  a 
trumpeter  or  flag  of  truce  »  were  correlative  terms.     Passin- 
in  the  face  of  danger,  they  courted  publicity  by  appeals  to 
eye  and  ear.     In  Canada,  Montgomery  and  Prescott  em- 
ployed  a  flag  and  drum :  and  that  his  flag-officer  Avas  twice 
fired  on  from  the  walls  of  Quebec  Arnold  regarded  as  a  most 
infarnous  infraction  of  civilized  warfare.     So  at  Boston  in 
17/0,  Howe  tartly  intimated  to  Washington  that  our  people 
so  constantly  fired  upon  his  officers  returning  from  parleys 
applied  for  by  ourselves,  that  he  desired  no  intercourse  be- 
tween  the  two  armies  should  continue,  except  where  Wash- 
ington would  send  his  own  letters  in  by  a  drummer  :  and  in 
the  turmoil  before  Yorktown,  the  flag  that  proposed  surrender 
was  accompanied  by  a  drum  beating  a  parley.     The  after- 
passage  of  flags  without  a  drum  was  especially  commented 
on.     But  the  drum  and  trumpet  M-ere  lawfully  hushed  when 
armies  were  not  met  face  to  face :  and  then  it  is  possible 
that  a  safe-conduct  may  have  been  equivalent  to  a  flaer  of 
truce.     Robertson  took  this  view:  but  it  does  not  clearly  ap- 
pear whether  Greene  denied  it  in  toto,  or  merely  held  that 
Andre  did  not  come  ashore  with  anything  in  the  form  of  a 
protection. 

To  my  mind  it  is  clear  that  as  his  errand  was  of  a  nature 
directly  opposed  to  the  end  for  which  flags  are  designed,  and 
as  he  was  detected  in  an  appearance  of  guih,  it  would  re- 
quire a  very  strong  case  to  exonerate  Andre  from  punish- 


I  '^'mm 


i38 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


■i^ 


ment.  The  reader  must  decide  whether  such  a  case  was 
made  out  by  his  friends.  If  he  was  within  our  lines  under  a 
nag,  why  did  he  not  return  under  its  protection  ?  If  he  was 
not  thus  guarded,  in  what  capacity  was  he  there  ? 

The  tendency  of  some  writers  to  suppose  that'the  moment 
a  man  becomes  a  spy  he  puts  himself  out  of  humanity's 
reach  has  probably  warped  many  judgments  on  this  matter. 
In  pomt  of  fact,  there  is  nothing  in  the  history  of  ancient  or 
nriodern  warfare  to  warrant  such  a  theory.     That  in  the  ab- 
stract  the  proceeding  is  no  more  defensible  than  manslayinc 
cannot  be  denied :  but  it  is  with  the  customs  of  this  world,  not 
with  sublimated  abstractions,  that  we  have  to  do.     WwiU 
pass  over  the  examples  of  the  Jews,  because  this  people's 
ways  m  war  or  an  peace  were  almost  peculiar  to  themselves.* 
Uut     m  the  most  high  and  palmy  state  of  Rome  "  we  find 
spies  and  deserters  constantly  encouraged.     The  Spaniard 
Balbu.,   he  fnend  alike  of  Pompey  and  of  C^sar,  acquired 
unprecedented  honors  through  such  secret  service  in  a  civil 
war:  and  his  name  is   immortalized  by  the  eloquence  of 
Cicero.     Constantine,  the  upholder  of  our  faith,  esteemed  it 
no  degradation  to  seduce  his  opponent's  followers :  and  an- 
other  C^sar  did  not  think  the  imperial  purple  was  sullied  by 
entering  the  Persian  camp  as  a  spy,  and  following  up  his 
explorations  with  a  prodigious  rout.     By  such  means  Alfred 
drove  the  Danes  from  England.     Nor  need  we  rest  upon  the 
dusty  records  of  by-gone  ages :  the  annals  of  modern  war- 
fare furnish  abundant  and  far  more  valuable  examples  of  the 
lightm  which  the  character  and  services  of  a  spy  are  held. 
In  the  Peninsular  War  they  were  freely  employed  by  all 

*  Though  Joshua  indeed  sent  his  spies  down  into  the  promised  land  we 
lo  not  want  examples  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Old  ^e  taml  ha 

urid  tf^p'  'k'?,  ''"'  "'''  '"^^  '"'''''''''-     The  Calvinist  S  ter  wt 
urged  the  Rochellois  to  slay  the  king's  trumpeter  bringing  proposes  to  he 

tZlTcrlZT  "  'r  '"^r^l  '"^'^^^  P™^^^^^"^^     '' '-"on     ni 
hnnV Tn  ^  I  ^    ""'^  "^"''^"P  "'''*"'  S^'^^'  thou  Shalt  surely  kill  him  •  thine 


I 


EMPLOYMENT  OF  SPIES. 


439 


ch  a  case  was 

ir  lines  under  a 

>n  ?    If  he  was 

re? 

tiat  the  moment 

of  humanity's 
on  this  matter. 
J  of  ancient  or 
rhat  in  the  ab- 
m  manslaying, 

this  world,  not 

do.  We  will 
3  this  people's 
o  themselves.* 
lome  "  we  find 
The  Spaniard 
ajsar,  acquired 
'vice  in  a  civil 

eloquence  of 
th,  esteemed  it 
vers :  and  an- 
vvas  sullied  by 
owing  up  his 
means  Alfred 
rest  upon  the 

modern  Avar- 
imples  of  the 
spy  are  held, 
•loyed  by  all 

omised  land,  vro 
Testament  has 
St  minister  who 
proposals  to  the 
f  any  one  entice 
'  kill  him ;  thine 
vards  the  hand 


parties  and  were  not  necessarily  thought  base.     Wellington 
had  a  legion  of  them  in  the  French  lines,  from  the  haughty 
grandee  who  boasted  a  sang  azul  noble  as  the  king's,  to  the 
httle  cobbler  on  the  bridge  of  Irun,  who  sat  on  his  bench  and 
from  one  year's  end  to  another  kept  tale  of  every  French 
soldjer  that  entered  Spain.   British  officers  also  notably  acted 
m  the   fie  d  as  spies :  and  where  double  treason  was  not 
wrought  Napier  says  all  these  characters  were  highly  meri- 
torious.    Carrara  did  not  scruple  to  offer  honors  and  wealth 
to  Ney  ,f  he  would  desert  his  standard:  and  Napoleon  him- 
seU,  not  only  by  allurements  but  more  unjustifiably  by  sever- 
lUes,  sought  to  bring  to  his  own  aid  the  professional  services 
of  persons  over  whom  the  fortunes  of  war  gave  him  power.* 
There  IS  one  case  in  particular  however  in  these  times  that 
strongly  reminds  us  of  Andre's. 

In  1809,  the  imperial  ambition  of  Bonaparte  excited  the 
republican  officers  to  look  to  St.  Cyr  or  Ney  as  a  leader  in 
Its  -epression.  John  Viana,  the  son  of  an  Oporto  merchant, 
brought  proposals  from  the  French  plotters  to  Marshal  Beres- 
ford,  asking  that  an  English  ofiicer  should  meet  them  to 
arrange  the  plan  of  action,  which  involved  the  seizure  and 
surrender  of  Soult,  their  leader.     "This  was  a  detestable 

»  Captain  Colquhoun  Grant  was  the  most  famous  English  spy  in  the 
Penmsu lar  War,  though  he  always  kept  his  uniform.  Being  empfoyed  by 
Wei  mgton  to  ascertain  Marmont's  route,  and  thus  his  purpose  he  go^J 
front  of   he  French  and  atler  a  hard  chase  was  run  down     Mamont  re 

0  dinner.       I  would  have  shot  hnn  on  the  spot,"  he  said,  "had  it  not 

tTj'  BThetl^r^"'"?  """'""«  ^  ""''^^^  "-^  he  wore  w£ 
aken.  But  he  took  his  parole  not  to  be  rescued  by  guerillas  on  the  road 
0\elli„gton  havmg  offered  $2000  reward  for  his  recovery)  and  sen  him  to 
Bayonne  with  secret  orders  to  the  governor  there  to  send  him  n  ht"  to 
Pans  Grant  wormed  out  this  secret;  and  eloping  at  Bayonne,  went  him 
self  to  Pans  and  remained  there  unsuspected  till  L  heard  one  div  that  an 
American  sailor  named  Jonathan  Buck  had  suddenlv  died,  leaving  h  past 
port  uncalled  for  at  the  Bureau.     He  at  once  claimed  it,  pretending  to  be 

f"  V  "1  '"  '^'  """'''  '^  ''''  ^^''"•'^'-  S«t  a  clandesLe  passage  on  a 
vessel;  and  in  four  months  irom  his  original  capture  he  was  again  plavL' 
around  the  skirts  of  t!ie  French  in  Spain.  '    '     *' 


B 


440 


LIFE  OF  MAJOK  ANDUlS. 


!?■  1 

i 

N 

i>( 

•S 

5 

> 

?! 

;        M 

S 

1 

' 

project,"  says  Napier,  «  for  it  is  not  in  the  field,  and  with  a 
foreign  enemy,  that  soldiers  should  concert  the  overthrow  of 
their  country's  institutions.    It  would  be  idle  and  impertinent 
in  a  foreigner  to  say  how  much  and  how  long  men  shall  bear 
with  what  they  deem  an  oppressive  government ;  yet  there 
IS  a  distinct  and  especial  loyalty  due  from  a  soldier  to  his 
general  in  the  field;  a  compact  of  honor,  which  it  is  singu- 
larly  base  to  violate,  and  so  it  has  in  all  ages  been  con- 
sidered."   An  English  colonel  in  uniform  reluctantly  went 
by  night  to  meet  them  on  a  lake  behind  the  French  outposts. 
They  missed  each  other,  and  returning  he  found  Viana  and 
the  French  Adjutant-Major  D'Argenton  in  the  English  lines. 
The  latter  boldly  went  on  to  Beresford  at  Lisbon,  conceiving 
his  backers  too  numerous  and  powerful  for  him  to  incur  much 
danger  in  his  own  army.     Wellesley  did  not  give  the  plan 
very  hearty  encouragement;  and  when  D'Argenton  came 
back  a  second  time  (the  first  essay  being  unnoticed  or  un- 
punished) he  gave  him  the  good  advice  to  avoid  receiving  an 
English  safe-conduct.    The  warning  was  disregarded.    D'Ar- 
genton was  discovered  and  condemned:  but  the  punishment 
was  not  executed,  and  he  finally  escaped.     Others,  French 
colonels,  also  conferred  with  Sir  Arthur  in  his.campaicrns  : 
nor  must  we  forget  Don  Uran  de  la  Rosa,  whom  the  English 
thought  a  Spaniard,  the  Spanish  an  Italian,  the  French  no 
one  knows  what,  and  the  mystified  Alava,  CagHostro  or  some 
such  wizard :    and  who  dined  alternately  in  the  opposing 
camps,  carrying  intelligence  ind  fferently  to  either  side.    The 
case  of  the  Frenchman  Perron,  who  came  over  from  Sindia 
in  1803  on  overtures  from  Lord  Lake,  was  not  unlike  Ar- 
nold's. 

In  our  Revolution  then  Ave  need  no:  be  surprised  to  find 
that  the  employment  of  spies  was  practised  on  the  most  ex- 
tensive scale  from  the  very  outset.  In  the  siege  of  Boston, 
John  Carnes,  a  grocer,  is  commemorated  as  Washington's 
secret  intelligencer;  and  by  handbills  sent  in  on  the°wind 
the  troops  were  tempted  to  desert  and  to  supply  our  own 


EMPLOVMENT  OK  SPIES.  411 

rank,     I„  v,-  ^fe,  ^y  order  of  Congress  t»o  ,,e«„,„  ,vero 
P  -.vmely  sen,  by  our  gene  h1  ,0  Nova  Seolia,  ,i  i^Z^^ 
strong  plaees  and  to  tamper  with  tlie  neonle      T„  F     1 
we  Wa  perfect  eorpso/spie.,  soml  Xn  „   n^^  ^o"' 
l.on.     In  New  York,  Wa,l,i„g(„n  tnaintained  ll,rou"h  Tl,  • 

::;;;"  e"":-:'"";^ ''"  r'r' "'"' ""  "-^•^'^  ••- 

im  ,„»la„tly  of  any  eons.demble  movement.  Th^se  ko„. 
U,e,r  seen  t  so  well  that  at  the  e..c„atio„  he  h,.d  o  so  d 
Tal  madge  ,„  while  yet  Carleton  held  the  town,  .0  ."rovido 
for  he  safety  of  his  agent,,.  One  who  had  neve  been  In, 
pected  was  eanght  tempting  soldier,  ,0  desert,  and  hanZd  at 
Brnnswek  Another,  whose  observations  perhap,  on  o  e" 
sion  saved  Wash  ngton's  life   was  »hl»  hi-  . 

wm.  ...owe.  IndFan  ^J^ T^.^.'Za'Z:^ 
o  unsnsp    tedly  piek  up  mneh  useful  irformationZ  oT; 
••rmy.    Yet  h.,  character  w.is  so  little  affected  by  these  trans 
act,„n,  that  he  remained   the  valued  friend  of  tahlZ 

iraight  m  the  popular  view  that  our  general  on  the  final  en- 

Atnold  had  hn„  se.zed  and  tried  hard  to  hang  him,  when    ,e 
came  over ;  but  there  was  not  enough  evidenc!...     it  ,t   bf 
Loved  when  Clinton  started  to  relieve  Cor^wallis,  ,Z   t 
means  of  a  white  flag  displayed  on  a  roof  in  New  Y^rk  and 
answered  by  a  gun  about  a  mile  from  Paulu,  Book  the  ex 
pod.ttot,  wa,  betrayed  to  the  American,  and  the  new,  tele 
K.-aphed  COO  mile,  on  to  Washington  in  forty!  i^T  ho     " 
Congress   uself  not  o„ly  retained   spies   in  [hat  dty    b  u 
■In'ough  the  war  left  no  stone  unturned  to  sap  thrfldelity 

*  Hamilton's  Hist.  Ren.  i.  46  ijOT  tf  ,«o„  i, 
AVa,shington  refers  i„  Js  ,etS  ^C^,  ^^"^"''^^7  ^t' 
the  person  in  whom  I  have  the  greatest  co Lficlenee  is  afrail  tn^l"'^'^ 
measure  for  communicating  Avith  me  iust  at  hkT  '' "™'^ /«  take  any 
slve  that  Arnold  may  possibly  have  so^ know! ed^^^^  ''  "  "PP^^^'^"" 
may  have  him  watrhorl      n.if        i  ^"owledge  of  the  connection,  and 

moft  distant  "hf?         T  ^''  ''  ^''"'"'^  "^'^t  ^•■""1''  '-  "-  -" 

mo„t  fiisrant  ^tint  uf  him,  I  exi^ect  soon 


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442 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDRfi. 


of  the  enemy's  army ;  offering  particularly  great  pecuniary 
temptations  to  officers  to  desert  with  their  commands.     The 
English   did   the  same;  and  both  sides  had  some  success. 
A  regular  spy  association  for  the  enemy  ramified  through 
Norwalk,  Stratford,  and  other  Connecticut  towns ;  and  our 
generals  were  pestered  with  more  than  one  such  .i  "sly,  art- 
ful fellow  "  as  McKeel,  seducing  the  soldiers  and  getting  re- 
cruits for  the  British.     In  fact.  La  Fayette  and  every  other 
general  hesitated  not  to  use  a  spy ;  and  the  better  the  man 
the  better  was  the  intelligence.     In  the  same  year  thpt  An- 
dre was  hanged,  Washington  applied  to  Bowdoin  and  Heath 
for  some  draughtsmen  of  superior  understanding,  firmness, 
and  fidelity,  to  clandestinely  make  plans  for  him  of  the  ene- 
my's works;  and  if  he  sometimes  found  his  own  secrets 
betrayed,  to  Clinton,  he  did  not  scruple  to  mislead  the  go- 
betweens  with  false  intelligence.    Such  courses  are  sanctioned 
by  the  customs  of  war,  and  if  Rush's  plan  of  sending  a  Ger- 
man baron  into  Howe's  lines  to  seduce  the  Hessians  found 
favor  in  American  eyes,  the  British  thought  it  as  fair  to 
seek  to  allure  Sullivan,  Moultrie,  Ethan  Allen,  and  others, 
to  exchange  their  service  and  break  their  faith :  a  severe 
construction  of  the  law  might  even  have  brought  Franklin, 
Chase,  and  Carroll  into  an  awkward  predicament  had  their 
Canadian  mission  left  them  in  Carleton's  hands.     Indeed  the 
action  of  Arnold  was  for  the  moment  fondly  believed  in 
England  to  have  been  shared  by  his  fellows ;  and  the  names 
of  Knox  and  Stirling,  Howe,  Sullivan,  and  Maxwell,  were 
ridiculously  bandied  about  as  of  fallers-off  from  the  cause. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  observe  that  our  Congress  had  in 
1778  clearly  announced  the  rigor  with  which  they  would  on 
necessity  deal  with  any  but  an  unimpeachable  flag.  Lieu- 
tanant  Hele  was  sent  from  New  York  with  a  flag  of  truce 
to  Philadelphia,  bearing  copies  of  the  Commissioners'  Mani- 
festo addressed  to  Congress,  the  several  legislatures,  the 
clergy,  the  nrn^.y,  and  the  people  at  large.  His  vessel  was 
ureeked,  and  after  some  suffering  and  loss  of  life  the  crew 


great  pecuniary 
omraands.  The 
d  some  success, 
amified  through 
towns ;  and  our 
iuch  '.I  "  sly,  art- 

and  getting  re- 
ind  every  otha* 

better  the  man 
!  year  thpt  An- 
doin  and  Heath 
nding,  firmness, 
him  of  the  ene- 
lis  own  secrets 
mislead  the  go- 
s  are  sanctioned 

sending  a  Ger- 

Hessians  found 
it  it  as  fair  to 
len,  and  others, 
faitli :  a  severe 
>ught  Franklin, 
ment  had  their 
Is.  Indeed  the 
lly  believed  in 

and  the  names 
Maxwell,  were 
•m  the  cause, 
ongress  had  in 

they  would  on 
le  flag.  Lieu- 
a  flag  of  truce 
ssioners'  Mani- 
!gislatures,  the 
His  vessel  was 
•f  life  the  crew 


REFLECTIONS  ON  ANDRfi'S  FA'iE.  443 

were  rescued  and  brought  to  Philadelphia.  Congress  thereon 
resolved  that  the  nature  of  Hele's  mission  was  not  to  be 
protected  by  a  flag,  an  •  threatened  for  some  time  to  proceed 
to  extremes  with  him.  It  is  said,  but  with  no  evidence  of 
truth,  that  during  his  prolonged  detention  Hele  avenged  him- 
self,  by  seducing  Arnold.  But  this  and  other  instances 
plainly  showed  that  Congress  was  not  to  be  restrained  on 
occasion  from  restricting  the  sanctity  of  flags  to  its  narrowest 
limits. 

The  inflexibility  with  which  Washington  regarded  AndnJ's 
case  has  been  the  subject  of  severe  criticism.     But  the  pub- 
he  weal  was  in  my  opinion  the  motive  as  well  as  the  measure 
V  •  '^.r°?"*'*'     ^"^'•gences  sometimes  spring  up  in  which 
It  IS  difficult  to  decide  whether  the  general  good  does  or  does 
not  demand  unshrinking  severity :  and  it  must  be  confessed 
that  no  offence  so  tends  to  shake  the  stern  impartiality  of 
the  sovereign  authority  as  that  which  seems  to  threaten  the 
subversion  of  all  its  rights  and  powers.    Yet  had  Brutus 
failed  to  doom  hi.  son  to  death,  we  are  well  advised  that  the 
unsettled  liberties  of  Rome  would  have  perished  in  their 
cradle.     The  necessities  of  the  state  is  proverbially  the  ty- 
rant s  plea;  but  how  oflen  do  we  see  its  advantages  practi- 
caWy  Illustrated  in  the  increased  welfare  of  the  community, 
i-very  one  recollects  how  many  Sepoys  in  the  lat.^,  Indian 
rebellion  were  blown  into  fragments  on  this  pretext ;  yet 
who  will  say  that,  with  regard  to  humanity  at  large,  real 
mercy  did  not  hero  temper  justice  ?    No  civilized  nation  hes- 
itates  to  fulfil  to  the  bitter  end  the  rescripts  of  its  tribunals, 
when  national  existence  is  threatened  with  destruction  by  len- 
ity.    We  have  Mr.  Fox's  authority  (and  better  is  not  to  be 
obtained)  for  saying  that  the  brother  of  the  king  of  France  — 
1  Homme  au  Masque  de  Fer  _  was  by  state  policy  the  inmate 
of  a  dungeon  from  his  cradle  to  his  bier.    If  we  turn  to  En- 
hsh  annais  we  find  so  late  as  1815  the  first  jurists  of  the  la^rd 
--one  might  nearly  say  of  the  world  —  discussing  the  fate 
.--•^^i  -r:.«icuuuiuugn,  oir  William  lirant,  the 


'if 


of  Nnnolpnn 
1 


444 


LIFE  OF  MAJOR  ANDR6. 


great  Stowell,  —  whose  interpretations  of  international  law 
may  almost  be  considered  as  its  text,— the  Chancellor  Eldon 
—  all  were  ranged,  «  a  terrible  show,"  in  solemn  conclave  on 
the  destiny  of  one  whose  fiat  had  lately  made  Europe  trem- 
ble. A  more  lofty  tribunal  never  judged  a  greater  man ; 
yet  the  diversity  of  opinion  that  arose  sets  the  conflicting 
sentiments  on  Andre's  case  utterly  in  the  background.  This 
man  was  for  giving  him  up  to  Louis  XVIII.  to  be  tried  for 
treason ;  that,  for  setting  him  at  perfect  liberty ;  and  the 
next,  that  he  was  a  mere  pirate —  "  Ao«<es  humani  generis 
carrying  about  with  him  caput  lupinum."    The  solution  of 

the  business  was,  in  Eldon's  common-sense  view, "that  the 

case  was  not  provided  for  by  anything  to  be  found  in  Gro- 
tius  or  Vattel,  but  that  the  law  of  self-preservation  would 
justify  the  keeping  of  him  under  restraint  in  some  dis- 
tant regibn,  where  he  should  be  treated  with  all  indulgence 
compatible  with  the  peace  of  mankind."  Here  principles 
supplied  the  want  of  precedent  as  perfectly  as  in  Andre's 
case. 

But  when  all  is  spoken,  shall  we  pronounce  Andre's  an 
unhappy  fate  ?    Has  not  the  great  law  of  compensation 
gilded  his  name  with  a  lustre  that  in  life  could  never,  with 
all  his  ardent  longing  for  fame,  have  entered  into  his  most 
sanguine  hopes  ?    If  he  perished  by  an  ignominious  means,  he 
perished  not  ignominiously :  if  he  died  the  death  of  a  felon, 
it  was  with  the  tears,  the  regrets,  the  admiration  of  all  that 
was  worthy  and  good  in  the  ranks  alike  of  friend  and  of  foe. 
The  heartiest  enemies  of  his  nation  joined  with  its  chiefs  in 
sounding  his  praises  and  lamenting  his  lot.     If  reputation 
was  his  goal,  who  of  his  compeers  has  surpassed  him  in  the 
race  ?     If  we  turn  to  his  own  army,  we  see  some  protracting 
an  unnoted  existence,  some  laid  on  the  shelf  and  repining  in 
obscurity,  some  haltingly  keeping  a  place  in  the  world's  eye 
less  by  merit  than  by  fortune.     Abercrombie  it  is  true  died 
happily  in  the  arms  of  victory ;  while  Simeoe  sunk  at  the 
moment  wlien   the   pathway  to   tlie  glory  that  none  more 


nternutional  law 
chancellor  Eldon 
emn  conclave  on 
le  Europe  trem- 
a  greater  man; 
}  the  conflicting 
3kground.    This 
.  to  be  tried  for 
iberty;  and  the 
humani  generis 
The  solution  of 
ew,~«  that  the 
!  found  in  Gro- 
servation  would 
t  in   some  dis- 
all  indulgence 
Here  principles 
{  as  in  Andre's 

ice  Andre's  an 
'  compensation 
uld  never,  with 
d  into  his  most 
iiou£  means,  he 
eath  of  a  felon, 
tion  of  all  that 
and  and  of  foe. 
ith  its  chiefs  in 
If  reputation 
sed  him  in  the 
me  protracting 
id  repining  in 
he  world's  eye 
it  is  true  died 
5  sunk  at  the 
at  none  more 


REFLECTIONS  ON  ANDRH'S  FATE.  445 

I^  open  "to  t^  '  n  ""'.  "  ^^^"'^^  '^  «»«-  --  ^-''ly 
laid  open  to  him.    Despard,  his  social  messmate  and  felloW 

prisoner,  succumbed   to  the    laws  of  his   own  land      tL" 
generous  Rawdon,  his  predecessor  in  the  Adi^  ant"nera[c^ 

expellee 'L   ^        l"'^""""'  ^'"''^  '""^^^^  ^^^^  ^-^""«  «"<! 
Pr  nlr  P        f ^P^"f^"<^«  on   the  selfish  friendship  of  the 

of  ha  in^Te  cr';'"  ''^^"^"^'"°  *^^  disapp'oin^nen! 
or  MMng  the  cup  of  power  raised  to  his  lips  but  to  be 

sn^ched  away,  was  dismissed  into  the  «  splendidLi:hm  nt  ^ 

ha  AntT'      '"  ''"''  '"^  "^'•'"'^  '^""^  «  ^^-^h  «o  horrid 
that  Andre  s  was  an  enviable  fate.     Nay,  the  verv  sovPrpJcm 

he  served  so  faithfully  and  well,  might  h'aVe  bee„K^ 

change  conditions  with  him.     Old,  mad,  and  blind,  with  a 

soul  as  darkened  as  were  his  organs  of  sense,  K  In'  rid  out 

his  weary  days  in  a  secluded  and  guarded  chLber  ulder  Z 

toTe  t/  T     r?  "'  '""^  '^'''  ^^^  ^"^J««^^<^  his  person 
to  the  ind^gmty  of  the  rod.     And  of  the  Americans  with 

whom  Andre  had  to  do,  how  sad  was  often  their  caree 

ing  lutudHrr  ^"'  "^T'  ^^'"^  ^^^"^  -  ^-^'  -^ "he 

ngratitude  of  the  empire  they  had  cradled  as  it  were  in  their 

bucklers  and  christened  with  their  best  blood,  was  at  once 

heir  ruin  and  its  shame.*     The  man  among  them  who  took 

a veTlffe"'""'  "  ^'^''^  ^^"^^''«"'  ^^'^^  '^^-ts  to 
save  h,s  hfe  were  equal  to  the  affectionate  praise  that  he 

gave  his  memory,  was  doomed  to  as  hanl  a  destiny.     Four 
"ver  ZVT  '^':-    *'^  ^^^^"^^^°  ^*  Tappaan  the  same 

Ze  A  exH    "u"-f"  °'  ^'^  ^'^'^^  P«-^^  ^»^e  «hore 
Where  Alexander  Hamilton,  the  foremost  man  in  all  this 

western  world,  was  shot  to  death.     Henry  Lee,  from  whose 

mtervention  the  amelioration  of  Andre's  fate  ^as  s^  hoped 

this  d.y      '  '  '''''""^  dependence  of  many  of  them,  is  not  paid  to 


I  Hiiwrac 


NiMhli 


fiil 


446 


f 


!      < 


S5 


^^m^ 

tm 

wd 

1 

i 

1 

1 

^^HMT>ii 

PI 

LIFE  OF  MAJOR  AKDRfc 


for,  survived  to  full  into  the  moat  dialressing  poverty  „„d 
«f  er  be,„g  brutally  beaten  by  the  Atnerican  nLMo^Leaa; 

^on  of  polucal  raneour,  personal  cupidity,  and  vulgar 
.^.abee."  And  Washington  himself  lived  to  hear  his  ^^ 
Uymen  deny  to  him  the  possession  of  either  militaty  orTu 

}Z       n.  I  .  P^""""'""  ;  'o  be  told  that  his  misdeeds 

had  poll  ;.ed  the  presidential  ermine  to  an  extent  alm^tTr 
remediable,   and  to  die   not   universally  regt^tted  "71^ 

^ZTlfr""-    '"TiV"'  "'"  •«  ^"'er  -ssest  the 
worthiest  bfc  as  any  which  befell  Andn!. 

In  the  fulfilment  of  an  enterprise  which  as  he  fondly  bc- 
■eved  would,  if  successful,  c,x,w„  him  with  the  h^r^^d^ 
•o  the  man  who  bad  restored  harmony  to  a  dividTtmnte 

lustre  the  arms  of  ha  country,  AjiQr.5  perished.  Hi.  motives 
.mmtcal  as  they  were  to  our  cause,  were  emineMty  "^pL..' 
able  and  no  otherwise  alloyed  with  peraonal  ambiLrta 
.saUowable  to  all  human  hands  (hat  seek  to  serve  hT  sat " 
H  d,ed  m  the  morning  of  hi.  life,  b,fi.„  ,„,„^  ^^^^ti 
w..h  envy  the  love  that  all  who  knew  him  bestowed  ul 

vvh  le  the  wme  was  yet  bright  in  his  cup  and  the  leel  „"- 
iTme'  V  ■'  '""  """  '"'"  »f  ^'"SS  and  he«I  ad 
fmtr"'"""'-''"^""™"'  '■''  f»»  f--.  brigbtne.' 

Of  every  royal  virtue  stands  p.^sess'd ; 
St<n  dear  to  all  the  bravest  and  the  best. 
His  courage  foes,  his  friends  his  truth  proclaim 
IliB  loyalty  the  king,  the  world  his  fame !         ' 


ing  poverty,  and, 
mob,  to  be  "cast 
ambined  persecu- 
ity,  and    vulgar 
>  hear  his  coun- 
militaiy  or  civil 
is  character  from 
hat  his  misdeeds 
jxtent  almost  ir- 
egretted   by  the 
3r  crosses  in  the 

5  he  fondly  be- 
the  honors  due 
divided  empire, 
sa  with  renewed 
!•    Hii  motives, 
inently  respect- 
ambition  than 
serve  i\e  state. 
ess  had  stained 
bestowed  upon 
dispelled,  and 
d  the  lees  un- 
d  heroes ;  and 
•esh  brightness 


laim, 


APPENDIX  No.  I. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 


I  SHALL  refram  from  lengthening  this  not«  by  the  insertion  of 
Bome  curious  unpublished  documents  respecting  Arnold's  earlier 
career  and  confine  myself  enfrely  to  such  matters  as  may  not  bo 
generally  known  relative  to  his  history  after  it  became  connected 
w.th  Andrds.  The  reader  will  find  in  The  Life  of  Arnold,  by 
Mr  Sparks,  an  accurate  and  skilfully  drawn  account  of  his  gen- 
eral  .histoj.  Mr.  Sabme,  whose  opportunities  of  procurincr  infor- 
mafon  about  the  Loyalists  were  very  great,  declares  it  certain  that 
Arnold  wa^  m  communication  with  Robinson  before  he  went  to 
West  Pouu;  and  it  is  probable  that  the  letter  which  Marbois  says 
was  found  among  his  papers  and  was  the  first  overture  received 
from  an  agent  of  Clinton's  was  written  by  Robinson.  It  is  re- 
translated here  from  the  French  version. 

"Among  the  Americans  who  have  joined  the  rebel  standard, 
there  are  very  many  good  citizens  whose  only  object  has  been 
the  happmess  of  the.r  country.  Such  men  will  not  be  influenced 
by  motives  o  private  interest  to  abandon  the  cause  they  have 
espoused.  They  are  now  offered  everything  which  can  render 
the  colonies  really  happy ;  and  this  is  the  only  compensation 
wortliy  ot  their  virtue. 

»  The  American  colonies  shall  have  their  parliament,  composed 
of  two  chambers,  with  all  its  members  of  American  birth.  Those 
of  the  upper  house  shall  have  titles  and  rank  similar  to  those  of 
the  house  of  peers  in  England.  All  their  laws,  and  particularly 
such  as  relate  to  money  matters,  shaU  be  the  production  of  this 
assembly,  with  the  concurrence  of  a  viceroy.  Commerce,  in 
every  part  of  the  globe  subject  to  British  sway,  shall  be  as  free  to 
ttie  peop  e  of  the  thirteen  colonies  as  to  the  English  of  Europe. 
Ihey  will  enjoy,  in  every  sense  of  the  phrase,  the  blcssincrs  of 


i 
^iiiiiiiip 


!     i'  ■ 


I 
I  I 


if! 


^ 


448 


APPENDIX. 


good  government.     They  shall  be  sustained,  in  time  of  need,  by 

exposed  to  the  dangers  or  subjected  to  the  expenses  that  are  al- 
ways inseparable  from  the  condition  of  a  State. 

.vhenstT,!     ,*'•"''  P''^'^'''^  ^^'  ^"°'«"^  '"  ^^«  ^<^-y  n>oment 

"Shall  America  remain  .vithout  limitation  of  Ume  a  scene  of 
desolation -or  are  you  desirous  of  enjoyin.  Peace  and  aHtho 
bh3ssujgs  of  her  train  ?     Shall  your  provLe;  a  Tn  fonlr  days 

pean  power?    Will  vou  rplv  „.       "^"^o"*'"  ot  a  great  Euro- 
'vu  •'       '^'^   "PO"   the  ffuarantv  of  FrAn,...  9 

joy  at  ,  c  allia-ee  already  ctabliahed,  and  p'^Io  C  7^* 
bpam  ,v,l   .mmodialcly  follow  tho  examp  e  of  fZcT  Aro  it ' 

}ou  under,  and  will  combme  to  accomplish  their  on,l  v  ti 
sands  of  men  have  perished;  immense  relree;  have  been  p" 
hausted  ;  and  yet,  since  that  fatal  alliance  tbe  dispute  L^^  " 
more  embittered  than  ever.  Everythinru  .eVu7to  nu  .  T 
.on  to  dissensions  not  less  detrimentafto  he  vi  to  J  an  tT  the" 
vanquished  :  but  desirable  as  peace  is  it  r-ann  J^  .^      ? 

,     ut  11  IS  ui  ine  same  time  advisab  e  to  arrive  at  \t  wWi. 
out  an  unnecessary  waste  of  th'^^  w««^    f-    i.-  ,  '"'" 

a.»pan„ga,.,„„,i,trraltLr::*^^^^        ""  "'-O^ 
.aclX^arasTl^"'  f^'of "°"  t°  ^''"  -™°°"*  "'- 

^fis"  ----  -tTdtr-ri^^ 

"Render  then,  brave  general,  this  important  service  to  your 


time  of  need,  by 
being  themselves 
eiises  tbat  are  al- 

tbo  very  moment 
L'onquer  the  obe- 

t'lnc  a  scene  of 
ace  and  all  the 

in  fonner  days, 
It  nation  of  tlie 
of  liberty  which 
'<  of  grasping  it  ? 
ained,  turn  into 
^  a  great  Euro- 
ly  of  France? 
ire  you  that  her 
d  that  she  will 
are  frantic  with 
)mise  you  that 
fice.    Are  they 
rest  in  keeping 

end  ?    Thou° 
have  been  ex- 
Jte  has  become 
3  put  a  conclu- 
rs  than  to  the 
negotiated  and 
ent  powers ;  it 
'itain  in  a  con- 
fer interest  as 
to  one  side  as 
live  at  it  with- 
3  are  already 

surmount  ob- 
ge  will  never 
reconciliation 

-vice  to  your 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD.  4^9 

lt2\  ^^\  '°'°"'°'  '''""°*  '"'**•"  ">"«h  lo"g«r  the  unequal 
strife     Your  troops  are  perishing  in  misery     Thev  !r!  k^^ 

every  auaZ  „f  Vl      ,u        ,^''  '^'^''  "'^  estaWishments  in 
monarch  lravcr.i„rht  IZ"  ^'°''  ""  ^  ""=™»  "  "  « 

;^hc™  a  LgihourinthXr'-h:^ -^  70^ '  BSio'^^S: 

Shrati;r:;Lrrr'""**'"«  "^^^  '"^"-  ^ 

liberty  yet  i,  »r„?ip  T  .  .  °^"  °"  ""ery  feature  the  siamp  of 
and  oVy':ri:re,irel*'"''  '°  *'  ^^"'"^  "^  *«•— '  -"'- 
a  J  Sl'^'  5°"«"?W  power,  ruin  them.elye8  by  war,  and 

our  enemies  as  of  succouring  our  friends 

.hi;thr^^::fl::  arp™%Xhe\""''' '-^  "-/^  "■"-''■ 

ana  M,  ,ea«.    Ti™  'g,vr.orirS."urf  a"  Si' 
wh,ch  what  „  newean  only  attain,  in  it,  turn,  by  the  Ce^? 
age».2oyalty  itself  experience,  the  need  of  thisTsefu,  Si™ 
nd  .J.e  race  that  ha,  «ig„ed  oyer  u,  for  rixty  yel  hT£ 

illustrious  for  ten  centuries. 

h  H^''^^  '«  equality  we  will  rule  the  universe:  we  will  hold 
It  bound,  not  by  arms  and  violence,  but  by  the   ties  Jf  com 
--;  the  lightest  and  most  gentle' bands  tChuman^L ":;" 


450 


APPENDIX. 


d.  i 


By  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Bancroft  I  am  able  to  give  the  precise 
sum  that  Arnold  received  in  satisfaction-  of  his  alleged  losses 
through  bis  defection.    It  was  £681 5  ;  of  which  he  remitted  £5000 
to  London  to  be  invested  in  stocks,  and  procured  therefrom 
£7000  four  per  cent,  consols.    It  must  be  recollected  that  such 
compensation  was  customary  when  an  officer  went  over  by  pre- 
vious arrangement  from  one  standard  to  another.     In  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war,  when  Lee's  capacity  was  held  of  the  chiefest 
importance  to  our  cause,  he  refused  to  give  up  his  British  rank  by 
entering  our  service  till  a  committee  of  one  from  every  colony  in 
Congress  had  heard  his  statement  of  probable  losses,  and  agreed 
to  indemnify  him  therefor.    Arnold  also  got  a  brigadiership  from 
the  English.    "  Had  the  scheme  succeeded,"  wrote  an  officer  of 
the  Coldstreams,  "  no  rank  would  have  overpaid  so  important  a 
service";  and  I  am  told  on  good  authority  that  the  prevailing 
sentiment  of  the  royal  army  esteemed  his  proceedings  a  proper 
return  to  night  principles  and  conduct.     The  money  he  got  how- 
ever was  a  scoff  to  our  friends.    The  banker's  receipt  of  his  re- 
mittance was  found  in  a  captured  vessel,  and  Franklin  wrote  of  it 
to  La  Fayette :  «  Judas  sold  only  one  man,  Arnold  three  millions. 
Judas  got  for  his  one  man  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  Arnold  not  a 
halfpenny  a  head."    Mr.  Sparks  says  a  pension  was  after  the  war 
given  to  each  of  Arnold's  children;  and  in  1782,  William  Leo 
wrote  to  our  Secretary  for  Foreign  Affairs :  —  "  The  late  British 
Ministry  died  as  they  had  lived,  for  one  of  their  last  official  acts 
was  to  give  the  traitor  Arnold,  by  patent,  one  thousand  pounds 
sterling  pension  per  annum  for  his  and  his  wife's  lives." 

Arnold  was  active  enough  in  the  British  cause.  It  was  re- 
ported, though  apparently  untruly,  that  he  had  fifty  of  the  warm- 
est Whigs  in  New  York  seized  immediately  on  his  arrival.  On 
the  28th  Oct.  1780,  he  wrote  to  Lord  George  Germain,  advising 
England  to  assume  the  arrears  of  pay,  at  most  £500,000,  of  our 
soldiers  enlisted  for  the  war,  or  to  offer  a  bounty  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
guineas  to  every  deserter,  half  down,  the  rest  at  the  end  of  the 
contest  He  thought  the  offer  of  a  title  to  Washington  wo  nld  have 
a  good  effect :  and  if  arms  instead  of  seduction  were  to  be  pursued, 
pointed  out  how  he  might  be  brought  to  action  and  beaten.  His 
own  sacrifices  swell  the  remainder  of  this  letter.  (MS.  S.  P.  O. 
R.  30  Nov.)  The  hatred  of  the  Americans,  however,  went  far 
beyond  the  praise  of  the  English.    It  reminds  us  of  that  of  the 


jivc  the  precise 
alleged  losses 
remitted  £5000 
ired  therefrom 
cted  that  such 
t  over  by  pre- 
In  the  begin- 
of  the  chiefest 
British  rank  by 
very  colony  in 
cs,  and  agreed 
[adiership  from 
i  an  officer  of 
10  important  a 
the  prevailing 
lings  a  proper 
iy  lie  got  how- 
!eipt  of  his  re- 
lin  wrote  of  it 
three  millions. 
Arnold  not  a 
I  after  the  war 
1  William  Lee 
be  late  British 
»st  official  acts 
usand  pounds 
es." 

5.  It  was  re- 
of  the  warm- 
arrival.  On 
nain,  advising 
)0,000,  of  our 
een  or  twenty 
>e  end  of  the 
>n  woflid  have 
.0  be  pursued, 
beaten.  His 
MS.  S.  P.  0. 
ver,  went  far 
of  that  of  the 


IlKNEDICT  ARNOLD. 


451 


Pemans  for  Omar:  and  if  the  caliph's  name  signified  the  devil. 
Arnold  s  became  synonymous  with  everything  that  is  bad  in  oui^ 

Omar .    sa.d  the  Persians  when  they  bent  the  bow  :  and  no  effort 
of  our  leaders  was  spared  to  get  the  defaulter  in  their  hands, 
^hero  short  rope,  short  shrift  would  have  been  his  doom.     Wash' 
ington  set  on  foot  a  plan  for  his  seizure:  La  Fayette  ordered 
that  he  should,  If  captured,  be  expressly  prevented   from  sur- 
rendermg  as  a  prisoner  of  war:  Jeflerson  thought  a  bribe  of 
6000  guineas  would  ensure  a  successful  kidnapping  dash  into  his 
camp.      Of  Washington's  enterprise,  in  which  Harry  Lee  and 
sergeant  Champe  figure  so  romantically,  litUe  need  be  said  here, 
since  the  story  has  already  been  well  told  and  roundly  criticized. 
Jefferson  calls  it  an  historical  romance,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that 
it.  main  facts  are  generally  true  ;  that  Champe  was  induced  to  de- 
sert  and  enter  the  English  service  under  Arnold,  with  the  design 
of  kidnapping  him.     A  Mr.  Baldwin  of  Newark  was  procured  to 
see  Champe  daily  in  New  York,  and  aid  him  in  the  project:  for 
which  he  was  to  receive  100  guineas,  500  acres  of  land,  and  three 
slaves     The  story  was  originally  told  by  General  Henry  Leo 
himself.    I  was  informed  by  the  late  Edward  D.  Ingraham,  Esq 
a  most  accomplished  historical  student  and  book-collector,  that  a 
Mr.  Beresford,  compositor  and  foreman  in  the  printing-house 
where  Lees  volumes  were  struck  off,  had  told  him  that  the  mate- 
rials for  the  book  came  to  them  in  a  very  undigested  form  and 
Hiat  they  were  put  into  their  public   shape  by  one  Lewis  P. 
Francks,  who  was  also  employed  in  the  office  :  in  confirmation  of 
which  Beresford  added  that  the  copy  was  kept  by  them  at  their 
discretion,  and  that  Francks  and  himself  had  still  possession  of 
many  of  its  original  letters  of  Washington,  &c.     As  Gen   Lee 
was  in  duress  when  he  sent  his  memoirs  to  press,  this  anecdote 
seems  plausible  enough  ;  and  Mr.  Ingraham  was  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  the  discrepancies  in  Lee's  account  might  thus  be  ac- 
counted for.     However,  all  attempts  were  fruitless  to  get  hold  of 
Arnold  ^  though  he  led  daring  and  destructive  forays  to  Connecti- 
cut and  to  Virginia. 

It  was  at  Philadelphia,  where  Congress  sat  and  where  political 
antagonism  among  the  Whigs  ran  fiercest,  that  Arnold  was  most 
bitterly  condemned.  He  was  attainted  as  a  traitor,  and  his  effects 
forfeited  and  sold.    He  had  formerly  opposed  the  vio.w«  nf  t>>n 


li 


'illi  II' 

iliilll 
ijltiilii 


■.% 


i52 


APPENDIX. 


rr  I 


i.i 


»>-  friend,  and  rovongh,;  p„|i,if„,  ^cor.^^  Th„7„*i?  S" 
organ  of  tlio  dominant  section  of  Whi™  »„.  1„  7  .  .  •  '  '"' 
its  indignation.     It  enlle,!  „„  r„  *^'  7         "''  »"''  *"""'  '■> 

companion,,  and  "  a^  to?  S  A       n   ""''  ''™  "'"■•""  ■■« 

;'.™:':^:::::r^^/aLTa^£^^^^^ 

dog  and  bone  -urmounting  tbet.^taldTl.'rr' '';'\''  °"""° 
have  scrve^  Lin.  i„  stead  i,t  InshouT'of  .ag^'"  ''^^"""  """  "'^ 

Je  suis  le  chicn  qui  ronge  I'oa, 
Sans  en  perdre  uu  seul  morceau: 
Le  temps  viendra,  qui  n'cst  pas  venu 
Je  mordrai  celui  qui  m'aura  mordu. 

to  denouneo  him,  and  to  eaU  aHen«o„  iZl"!  Tt  T  '■""«™^ 
ported  him :  and  hi,  wife',  Vh!„  i,  I  •  u  ™''°  ^  """'  '"f 
state  government  srp.  27  r7o'-*""r  "«=""'''■  ^"^ 
There  wa,  nothin:  to  eriminlte  he  '  rr «  *"'  "'■''  '«"•  P»P«"- 
reflecting  ha^hl/oi:  .h  "wj  MinilX?™  "'"'"  '■'"'°'' 
by  a  member  of  the  Kovemment  »  ii  ^'''°,"'"'  """'^ 
bois,  «ho  to  serve  his  f„n  T^  ,~  ITt"  ""°''  "^'^  "^" 

=n-raVir.reJ::  S  f  P-^^^^^^ 

proper  here  to  correct  an  er.r  flagrantly  madelj  Si,,  who 


I' 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 


453 


hnd  every  opportun.ty  of  knowing  better,  nnd  repeated  by  Urd 
Mahon,  respecting  the  lenity  bestowed  on  Mrs.  Arnold.  She  ro- 
cc.veU  none  at  all.  unles,  it  was  in  refraining  to  attaint  her  witi 
out  any  forthcoming  evidence.     At  camp  indeed  she  was  believed 

ierTath  '  "';  pfT'^'S'l^  '"  ^"''^^  ^'''  destination.     She  came  to 
her  father  at  Ph.Iadelphia,  an,l  was  anxious  to  remain  with  him ; 

war  and  to  send  all  received  from  him  at  once  to  government. 
Phe  e.v.1  authont.es  refused  her  appeal,  and  enforced  their  order 
of  ex.Ie  during  the  war.  She  was  compelled  to  go  to  New  York 
where  her  distressed  and  dejected  air  was  very  observable  for  ^ 
ime.  When  her  sp.nts  however  were  restored  she  shone,  we  are 
told,  ,n  society  as  "  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude,"  and  expectation 
.ven  m  London  was  excited  by  the  asseverations  of  Tarlelon  and 
other  returning  officers  "  that  she  was  the  handsomest  woman  in 
Ji^ngland. 

On  his  own  arrival,  though  well  received  at  court  where  leaning 
on  Carletons  arm  he  was  presented  by  Sir  Walter  Stirling,  and 
m  the  cabmet  where  he  was  consulted  by  Germain  and  regarded 
as  a  very  sensible  man,  Arnold  had  some  pretty  hard  raps  to  .o- 
ce.ve  from  the  Opposition.     In  the  Commons  Lord  Surrey  is 
8a.d  to  have  sent  word  to  him  that  ho  would  move  the  house  to 
be  cleared  unless  he  withdrew,  and  only  consented  to  his  remain- 
ing  for  that  once  because  he  was  introduced  by  a  member  and 
promised  never  to  come  again.    It  is  difficult  to  believe  some  of   ' 
the  anecdotes,  pointed  or  pointless,  that  are  told  of  his  rebuffs. 
Hut  It  appears  that  he  was  once  hissed  at  a  playhouse:  and  that 
party  raillery  was  not  withheld  from  him.     IJurke  and  Fox  pro- 
tes  ed  against  h,s  employment ;  and  it  was  rumored  that  the  king 
had  promised  not  to  confide  to  him  the  charge  of  British  troops 
A  noble  satirist  m  1777  had  reproached  him  with  the  reports  of 
his  early  misdeeds  about  horses : 

One  Arnold  too  shall  feel  our  ire; 
By  horses  torn,  let  him  expire 

Amidst  an  Indian  screech ! 
Nor  by  his  death  let  vengeance  cease, 
Tlie  jockey's  ghost  can't  rest  in  peace. 

If  Burgoyne  forge  his  speecli ! 


on 


"Mr  Arnold  "  quoth  the  writer,  "is  understood  to  have  been 
-nally  a  dealer  in  horses,  and  to  have  had  his  conduct  severely 


:,v    ! 


45i 


APPENDIX. 


"Criticised,  as  bein«y  #i,» 

'»"'  »o»  .gam  made  him  hi,  ^^^  '='  S«m-  ■«•  3.)"    The  aame 


AN"  ODE 

ADDRESSED  TO  nirv.-». 

iO  OE>EnAI.  ARNOLD. 

Grave  Amherst  f/         .'    "'^  capers; 
««  «ne',.  core  for  vajlr- 

An/      ,      *  courtier's  trade 


spect  to  certain  strayed 
they  were  lost,  he  was 
'ni.ix.3.)"    The  same 


\  i 


rOLD. 

hore ! 
na  'lore 

I'd, 
>und, 


Id, 


1  face. 


ists: 


DS, 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

And  spar'd  when  wo  should  kill: 
Was  it  by  coursing  to  and  fro 
That  Sackville  beat  the  daring  foe 

Or  bravely  standing  still  ? 

Heroic  Sackville,  calm  and  meek  — 
Tho'  Ferdinand©  smote  his  cheek, 

He  never  shook  his  spear; 
(That  spear,  in  Gallic  blood  fresh  dyed;) 
But  like  Themistocles,  he  cr)'ed, 

Frappez,  mon  prince  !  —  but  hear. 

As  yet  we've  met  with  trifling  crosses, 
And  prov'd  our  force  e'en  by  our  losses; 

(Conquest  or  death's  the  word:) 
Britons,  strike  home !    Be  this  your  boast, 
After  two  gallant  armies  lost, 

Sir  Henry  —has  a  third. 

Worn  out  with  toils  and  great  designs, 
Germain  to  you  the  seals  resigns. 

Your  worth  superior  owns ; 
Would  rev'rend  Twitcher  now  retreat. 
We  still  might  keep  a  greater  fleet 

By  bribing  o'er  Paul  Jones. 

O'er  Twitcher's  breast,  and  Germain's  too, 
Fix  Edward's  star  and  ribbon  blue. 

To  ravish  all  beholders; 
That  when  to  heaven  they  get  a  call. 
Their  stars  (like  Eli's  cloak)  may  fall 

On  Paul's  and  Arnold's  shoulders. 

Carmarthen,  ope  your  sacred  gates, 
The  gen'rous,  valiant  Germain  waits, 

Who  held  the  Atlantic  steerage: 
(He'll  shine  a  jewel  in  the  crown) 
When  Arnold  knocks  all  traitors  down. 

He  too  shall  have  a  Peerage ! 

Should  faithless  Wedderburne  decline 
To  rank  his  name,  Germain,  with  thine, 

This  truth  (unfee'd)  I'll  tell  you; 
Rise  a  Scotch  Peer— right  wee!  I  ween, 
You'll  soon  be  chose  —  one  of  sixteen  — 

Dare  Grafton  then  expel  you  ? 


455 


456 


APPENDIX. 


A  more  interesting  tirade,  insomuch  as  it  lets  in  more  Ught  on 

Arndds  history  was  made  by  a  Mr.  Robert  Morris,  a  Welshman, 

who  had  been  Secretary  to  the  Bill  of  Eights  Society.    Morris 

had  been  left  in  a  confidential  relation  by  Lord  Baltimore  fo  his 

natural  daughter.     The  girl  had  property,  and  he  married  her 

while  she  was  yet  very  young.    In  two  years  she  separated  from 

f\  '  u  r  r^^^'^li  ^'^  transactions  about  Arnold  in  a  pamphlet 

of  which  I  know  of  but  one  copy.    It  is  entitled  »  Morris.  Arnold 

and  Battersby.     Account  of  the  Attack  I  made  on  the  character 

of  General  Arnold,  and  the  dispute  which  ensued  between  me  and 

Laptam  Battersby.    It.  Morris.    London,  1782."    8vo  pp  32 

The  fray  began  by  Morris  publishing,  Feb.  9,  1782,'a  letter  in 
the  General  Advertiser,  in  which  he  says  Arnold  had  been  trans- 
ported  rom  England  to  America  for  horse-stealing  and  was  thus 
exposed  m  both  countries  to  be  hanged.    But  he  should  not  be 
averse  to  the  rope,  since  he  left  Andre  to  be  hung,  to  spare  him- 
selt  the  risk  of  sending  him  back  as  he  came.    «  He  sent  him  off 
to  run  every  hazard  by  himself,  secure  of  his  own  flight  in  case 
Andre  was  stopt."    The  bribe  was  all  he  wanted :  "  £8000,  which 
he  was  sure  to  touch,  was  a  capital  sum  for  such  an  original  be- 
gar.      He  is  indignant  at  Arnold's  reception  at  Court.    «  Whe°n 
Sir  H.  .Clinton  was  trjing  every  negotiation  and  manoeuvre  to 
save  his  Aid-de-Camp,  when  whole  battalions  were  turning  out  to 
make  an  offer  of  their  blood  in  one  desperate  attempt  to°rescue 
him  from  the  midst  of  the  American  Army,  this  inglorious  fellow, 
who  had  brought  him  into  and  left  him  in  all  this  scrape,  made  no 
offer  of  the  surrender  of  his  person  back  to  the  Americans,  which 
he  knew  was  a  sacrifice  that  would  at  once  be  accepted,  and  would 
be  a  sure  preservation  to  Major  Andrd  from  his  impending  fate." 
He  concludes  with  the  wish  that  Arnold  would  resent  his  letter: 
but  unfortunately,  liberal  as  he  is  of  assertion,  he  had  made  one 

71  oo  ui  "°'  'r^  ^'  *"'"•  ^  ^^Pt^'»  J^'^es  Battersby, 
of  the  29th  Foot,  who  had  sailed  from  Chatham,  Feb.  28,  1776 
for  the  relief  of  Quebec,  and  was  captured  with  Bur^oyne  and 
several  yeu.v  a  prisoner,  had  returned  to  England  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1781.  He  wrote  to  the  Morning  Herald  that  he  verily 
believed  Arnold  did  offer  to  surrender  himself.  Morris's  reply 
evaded  this  point,  and  generally  abused  Clinton  and  Arnold- 
on  which  Battersby  wrote  a  sharp  letter,  suggesting  that  he  had 
already  offered  to  fight  Morris  and  now  repeats  the  challenge- 


}  in  more  light  on 
rris,  a  Welshman, 
Society.    Morris 
1  Baltimore  to  his 
he  married  her 
e  separated  from 
)ld  in  a  pamphlet 
'•  Morris,  Arnold 
on  the  character 
between  me  and 
8vo.  pp.  32. 
1782,  a  letter  in 
had  been  trans- 
ng  and  was  thus 
ie  should  not  be 
ng,  to  spare  him- 
He  sent  him  off 
(vn  flight  in  case 
"  £8000,  which 
an  original  beg- 
Court.     « When 
d  manoeuvre  to 
e  turning  out  to 
tempt  to  rescue 
nglorious  fellow, 
3crape,  made  no 
mericans,  which 
pted,  and  would 
mpending  fate." 
!sent  his  letter; 
had  made  one 
mes  Battersby, 
Feb.  28,  1776, 
Burgoyne  and 
id  in  the  sum- 
that  he  verily 
Morris's  reply 
and  Arnold: 
ig  that  he  had 
the  challenjre: 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD.  457 

that  Arnold  will  not  notice  such  alow  fellow :  -  «  were  he  disposed 
to  resent  audacious  and  unpn,voked  insolence,  there  are  a  Tw 
braj^ng  asses  of  rank  whom  he  would  first  ehitise  " :  -  but  the 

tagomst.    Morns  agam  writes  in  general  invective  a-ainst  Arnold 
and  Mows  wjth  an  address  to  Battersby,  in  which  hfslys  he  di^ 

never  heard  ,t  from  any  one  else :  and  that  if  it  were  true  Ar- 
now  should  have  gone  off  without  Clinton's  knowledge. 
Moms  now  strove  to  get  a  meeting  from  Arnold  ^hile  a  friend 

1  should  have  no  objection  to  see  killed  by  any  other  hand  in 
stead  of  my  own,  while  there  was  any  ehance^f  Ceral  Arnold 
fair(ZT7':    T'^l-*-— tohisaida^Ltr  • 

Thot's    lalnt'  atS'^^^^^  ^'^"^  '"-'"  ^^^^^  ^^• 

^•efugee  whatso^-er.  °  Anti-Yankey,  or  any  other  rascally 

I'll  fight  him, 
I'll  beat  him, 
I'll  roast  him, 
I'll  eat  him!" 

Ai  last  a  duel  was  arranged.    Major  St^inhope  (Lord  Harring- 
ton  s  brother)  was  the  captain's  second ;  but  being  pl.ventedTrom 

Morns.  A  reconciliation  however  intervened  and  the  dispute  wa^ 
accommodated:  and  since  Arnold's  courage  at  least  warunnue^ 
tionable,  we  must  suppose  there  was  some  other  reason  for  his^  no 

bad  tale'^Tsf  ^''^  *"^'  '^^^"^'^  P"^'-^-"  -«  '"  -y 
bad  taste.     He  says  Burgoyne  remarked  of  the  dispute  between 

lumself  and  Battersby  and  its  occasion  :  "  that  it  was  ust  Hke  two 
gentlemen  quarreling  for  a  common "  ^ 

1787.  8vo.pp.  IK  80; -an  anonymous  work  which  I  am  more 
and  more  convinced  was  written  or  directed  by  Arnold's  Twn 
hand.  The  translator  of  Chastellux  had  printed  matters  17^ 
Notes  peculiarly  offensive  to  Arnold  and  of  such  a  „Ttt^"h  t  the 
author  would  never  have  admitted  many  of  themtto  lis  own 
pages  severe  though  they  be  in  their  reflections  on  1.  tZ" 
.uu  .heir  recent  acquisition.    All  that  is  said,  however,'b;",;; 


Hi 


458 


APPENDIX. 


r^lll  -^  »»!«  Remarks  in  relation  to  the  business  of  West  Point  is 
ite  SeLus.        "'""      '^"°'''  '°"^"^'  *'^"  •"  ^^P»-^^'-  "f 

"From  the  Translator  we  gather,  that  general  Arnold  received 

TeTJ^Tf  "'""t"  *'^  '""'^^^  ^"^^--  the  Author  that 
he  was  to  dehver  up  West  Point.    The  death  of  major  Andre  is 

.n  hfR  f- 1"""'  '".'  *'"  ^^"'  '''''  ^«  ^-  of  adjutant-genera 
m  the  Bntish  army.  From  these  inferences,  admitting  the^  truth, 
what  deductions  can  we  draw  ?  Oould  Arnold  alone  give  up  WesJ 
.T.  I  M  t  ^"  «^J"'^"t-gencral  have  visited  him  for  what  he 
alone  cpuld  have  accomplished  ?  Would  he  have  been  hazarded  for 

te  er£':?    r°  '"f  '"  °'-^^^* '  '^  *^^^^  ^^^^^  -  A-o'<l' 
a^everatons?    Gave  he  no  reasons  for  his  conduct?    He  did. 

fnH        t!^^  ef --aordinary  event  will  doubtless  be  ever  concealed ; 
and  probably  httle  more  than  what  has  already  transpired  will  be 
known  to  tho  present  generation.     Arnold's  assertions,  that  Amei> 
ca  ,n  general  was  satisfied  with  the  offers  of  the  British  nation, 
that ,  was  averse  to  the  French,  and  the  continuation  of  the  war 
were  true,     t  has  been  before  observed,  that  Washington  asserted 
that  he  would  never  agree  to  independency ;  and  though  the  Con 
g^ss  decreed  that  all  their  votes  should  be  styled  unanimous,  ilis 
yell  known  that  more  than  once  a  single  voice  or  two  has  decided 
upon  their  most  miportant  resolutions.     To  a  certain  length  Gal- 
loway acceded  to  the  American  cause,  and  in  England,  people  at 

rf  rf /''f '  ^'"'*'^  '^°™  *^^'^  «"PP«^'  °f  America  as  she 
receded  from  her  connections  with  this  country ;  this  did  the  great 
and  wise  earl  of  Chatham,  the  first  statesman  o^  the  Z       ^ 

The  argument  is  not  whether  this  change  of  sentiment  pro- 
ceeded  from  patriotic  principles,  or  sinister  passions;  it  is  the  fact 

Tnd  mwlr  ?  '"'  ""'"l "'"  ^"^'  ^^•^^  ^"'^  E«««^'  Falkland 
and  Whitiock,  and  many  others,  furnished  the  precedent ;  and  this 

conduct  must  anse  from  the  nature  of  man,  imperfect  in  himself, 

his  judgments,  and  opinions;  and  actuated  from  events  and  effects 

ongmatmg  from  so  imperfect  a  source.    Was  it  not  so,  how  could 

a  war  ever  be  terminated  ?    A  brave,  but  a  divided  people,  under 

the  mfluence  of  conscience,  and  a  firm  belief  of  the  justice  of 

heir  cause,  would  fight  to  their  mutual  destruction, '  and  darkness 

be  the  buner  of  the  dead.'    History,  when  it  points  out  to  us  the 

calamities  of  civil  wars,  uniformly  delineates  their  termination,  not 


3  of  West  Point  is 
in  explanation  of 


Arnold  received 

the  Author,  that 
r  major  Andre  is 

adjutant-general 
itting  their  truth, 
me  give  up  West 

him  for  what  he 
een  hazarded  for 
thing  in  Arnold's 
iduct  ?    He  did. 

ever  concealed ; 
ranspired  will  be 
ions,  that  Amer- 
J  British  nation, 
ition  of  the  war, 
lington  asserted, 
though  the  Con- 
unanimous,  it  is 
wo  has  decided 
tain  length  Gal- 
gland,  people  at 
(America  as  she 
lis  did  the  great 
le  age. 

sentiment  pro- 
Js ;  it  is  the  fact 
Sssex,  Falkland 
2dent ;  and  this 
rfect  in  himself, 
ents  and  effects 
t  so,  how  could 
I  people,  under 

the  justice  of 

*  and  darkness 
ts  out  to  us  the 
^rmination,  not 


) 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD.  459 

CO  much  in  the  destruction  of  mankind,  as  in  their  change  of 

re  o^d  f        M  T'"'  "^'^^^  '''""  ^'«  P"--"'  -'J  the°a4 
revolted  from  Monk,  what  would  have  been  Monk's  fate  ?    And  in 

what  hght  would  posterity  consider  his  memory?    A  repubhcan 

:^;uatfb"utr""^"'"^r^'^*  P^^^^-*  detract  d- 
reputation  but  he  is  venerated  by  Englishmen  in  general  as  the 

or  permittrng  the  restoration  of  the  king  without  compact-  the 

imct,  would  have  ruined  his  measures;  secrecy  alone  Jould  give 
success  to  his  arduous  undertaking.    He  trusted,  and  he  tm tel 
justly,  that  the  spirit  of  the  times  would  secure  the  liberty  of  tS 
ject,  against  which  it  was  visible  the  crown  must  contend  in  vain 
d  ml^o^    f  7^°r  "^;-nt  to  distinguish  the  momentarv    " 

heir  ndividud  miseries,  from  the  sober  and  collective  voice  of 
their  judgment.  If  the  house  of  Stuart,  on  the  removal  of  that 
grea  man  forgot  their  own  interests,  and  ungratefully  invaded  the 

.bert.es  of  the  people,  it  certainly  was  contrary  to  the  calculation! 
of  reason  and  they  lost  the  crown  in  consequence;  the  spirit  of 

he  people  as  one-man,  rose  up  against  them,  and  let  it  be  re- 
membered,  the  Revolution  was  effected  without  bloodshed.    H^d 

^r  /k."!  ri  ""^  *''"""'^*  ""''^  ^''"'  g'^'«»  «  ««-«••«  blow,  and 
without  bloodshed,  to  Washington's  .rmy;  had  he  broke  the  ci^U 
chains  of  the  people,  and  restored  the  sword  to  their  hands,  had 
they  accepted  tae  more  than  independency  which  was  offered  to 
Amenca  by  Great  Britain;  and  had  the  empire  by  these  mean! 
been  restored  to  union,  who  would  have  enjoyed  the  blessings  of 
this  age,  and  been  the  favourite  of  postority,  the  active,  ento^pris- 
.ng  American  Arnold,  or  the  cool,  designing,  frenchified  Washinc.- 
ton  ?  These  terms  are  derived  from  the  Marquis's  Memoirs  •  hi 
opinions,  and  the  rejoicings  of  the  Americans  upon  the  failure  of 
Arnold  s  attempt,  establish  its  magnitude." 

In  other  places,  the /Jmarfo  give  some  information  of  affairs 
that  would  be  valuable  according  to  our  absolute  certainty  of  the 

up  of  all  nations,  and  only  kept  effic-'e.t  by  the  severest  discipline 

...exel^   ad   who  did  not  profess  devotion  to  America.     The 


'".i 


ill 


II     i 


I 


460 


APPENDIX. 


m,l.t.a  spread  around  the  camp  at  least  served  to  intercept  desert, 
ers  and  prevent  marauds.  Many  of  the  generals  are  roughly 
handled;  J  a  Fayette,  Sullivan,  Stirling,  and  Greene  among  the 
number.  U  ayne  has  some  praise  ;  -  if  he  should  ever  read  my 
account  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  he  ^ill  enjoy  it,  and  say 
.s  true."  Lee,  Mifp:n,  and  Gates  are  spoken  of  mo^  kindh^ 
Keed  ,s  spoken  of  w.th  severity;  and  >vhat  are  alleged  to  be  par- 
ticular facts  m  connection  with  the  imputed  defection  that  Arnold 

Z  w  •"  k'°"=  "P  ^°^'"''  ^'"^  ^••^  '^^'^^d-  Of  Washington 
he  Tvnter  observes:-"!  have  no  resentment  to  that  general- 
Ins  vrtues  and  his  .-ices  are  now  out  of  the  question  ;  and  whet  fer 
he  cont.„ues  a  land^obber  in  Virginia,  or  the  president  of  Con- 
g^^ss,  ,s  totally  md.fferent.    The  exposition  of  truth  is  all  my 

had  «;  ^^I^'  '.?""'?."  ''''''''''y  ^'"^y^  ^'-  Washington 
rornw.1  •  '  '  '?""  °^  ""'°"-     '-Th^   ^^Pt"''^   Of  Lonl 

artZv  Tr"'""  *'r.Tr*  ^'J°'"*  °^"^^^^'-  -'I  French 
^a  aPkrma  /"^T  '^  ^^^^'''"g^-"  ^'  Brandywine  and  de- 
feat at  Germantown,  have  not  added  to  his  reputation;  and  the 
tormmg  h.s  repulse  at  Monmouth  a  defeat  of  the  Britsh  army 
proved  that  havmg  assumed  French  politics,  he  was  intoxicS 
wath  their  manners.  The  Congress  called  it 'a  victory,  the  army 
knew  the  term  to  be  a  «  dishonourable  gasconade  '"  ^ 

Arnold's  affairs  could  not  have  been  bad  in  England,  but  they 
were  not  good  to  his  wish.  In  the  spring  of  1785?  he  was  so  d2^ 
appo.nted  at  not  getting  a  hearing  before°the  Boa  d  orL it 
Claims  that  he  resolved  to  withdraw  his  suit  and  retire  Tnto  the 

Ja>.  From  this,  some  persons  have  conjectured  that  war  is  de- 
termined on,  or  at  least  thought  not  improbable.  He  we't  to 
Ila  .fax  m  a  vesse  of  his  own,  with  a  cargo  of  his  own,  u  "  „  a 
trading  voyage  as  is  given  out.  This  I  can  scarcely  bel  evr  it 
would  hardly  be  permitted  a  general  officer  to  go  upon  IL  a 
trade.     He  said  himself  he  had  a  young  family  to  provfde  for  and 

the"  trat  hrha?  If'  ''^  ^'  "  "'^'^  ^"^"""^-  '  ^^ 
then,  that  he  has  obtained  leave  to  go  out  and  purchase  himself  a 

settlement  m  Kova  Scotia  or  Canada,  that  he  may  be  out  of  the 
ITonf  1  "  the  neglect  and  contempt  in  which  he  is  hZ  by 
not  only  the  army,  but  the  world  in  general."  ^ 

The  same  military  spirit,  the  same  intolerance  of  inactive  subor- 


i 


*i^' 


THE  CAPTORS. 


4I>1 


)  intercept  desert- 
;rals  are  roughly 
rcene  among  the 
iltl  ever  read  my 
enjoy  it,  and  say 

of  more  kindly. 
Uleged  to  be  par- 
ction  that  Arnold 

Of  Washington 
to  that  general; 
on ;  and  whether 
•resident  of  Con- 
truth  18  all  my 
Mr.  Washington 
apture    of  Lord 
ion  and  French 
dywine  and  de- 
itation ;  and  the 
le  British  army, 
was  intoxicated 
ctory,  the  army 

igland,  but  they 
5,  he  was  so  dis- 
ard  on  Loyalist 

retire  into  the 
ito  trade  again, 
vrote  Adams  to 

that  war  is  de- 
Hc  went  to 
is  own,  upon  a 
ely  believe.  It 
0  upon  such  a 
►rovide  for,  and 

I  rather  think 
base  himself  a 

be  out  of  the 
he  is  held  by 

naetivc  subor- 


l 


dmation  that  marked  his  character  in  our  service  followed  Arnold 
"ito  that  of  the  British.     Great  as  were  his  crimes,  he  can  neither 
be  accused  of  a  lack  of  personal  intrepidity,  nor  of  a  crin..in.. 
subservience  that  prized  slothful  prosperity  above  the  hazardi  of 
the  field.    In   1780  an  English  writer,  commenting  on  his  gen- 
erals neglecting  or  refusing  to  disturb  our  military  arrangements, 
uses  these  words:-"  General  Arnold,  in  beseeching  Clinton  to 
march  out  and  attack  Washington  and  Rochambeau,  and  on  his 
refusal  offering  to  do  it  himself  with  6000  or  even  5000  men, 
must  have  ruined  himself  completely  with  Sir  Henry.    It  would 
be  much  better  now  for  General  Arnold  to  bo  in  London  than  at 
iMew  York.      It  must  not,  however,  be  forgotten  that  his  defection 
encoimtered  from  many  quarters  as  severe  censure  in  En<.land  as 
It  had  received  in  America.    To  the  samples  of  this  opinion  al- 
ready  cited  I  will  add  but  one  other,  which  is  curious  as  showin.. 
how  Andre  was  by  some  still  styled  St.  Andrd.  -  " 

t 

ARNOLD:   OR,  A  QUESTION  ANSWERED. 

Our  troops  by  Arnold  thoroughly  were  bang'd, 
And  poor  St.  Andr^  was  by  Arnold  hang'd ; 
To  George  a  rebel,  to  the  Congress  traitor,  ' 
Pray  what  can  make  the  name  of  Arnold  greater? 
By  one  bold  treason,  more  to  gain  his  ends, 
Let  him  betray  his  new  adopted  friends ! 


No.  II. 

THE  CAPTORS. 

There  has  been  for  some  years  a  controversy  about  the  char- 
acter and  motives  of  the  men  who  arrested  Andre.  On  the  one 
hand  IS  the  contemporaneous  eulogy  bestowed  on  their  conduct  by 
Washington,  and  the  sense  in  which  it  has  generally  been  re- 
garded  by  the  public.  New  York  gave  each  of  them  a  farm 
Congress  ordered  silver  medals  inscribed  Fideliti/  and  Vincit 
Amor  Patrice  to  be  made  for  Paulding,  Williams,  and  Van  Wart  • 
r",  J'^^joted^each  a  yearly  pension  of  two  hundred  silver  dol' 
On  the  other  is  the  assertion  of  several  weighty 


aFS    lui-   iu(3 


ill! 


r 


iiiiiiii|t 


tt 


HI  lit  lill't 


\  \ 


462 


APPENDIX. 


evidences  that  they  were  marauders,  whose  object  was  simply 
spoil.  *  ' 

On  the  13th  January,  1817,  Paulding's  petition  for  an  increased 
pension  was  debated  in  the  House  of  Representatives.     Tall- 
madge  opposed  the  prayer  earnestly,  going  with  minuteness  into 
the  details  of  the  event  from  which  it  arose.     He  said  the  captors 
only  brought  their  prisoner  in  because  they  thought  thev  would  get 
more  for  his  surrender  th?n  for  his  release:  that  he  fully  believed 
in  Andrd's  assertions  that  their  object  was  to  rob  him,  and  that  they 
would  have  let  him  go  if  he  could  have  satisfied  their  demands. 
They  took  off  his  boots  in  quest  of  plunder,  not  to  detect  treason  ; 
and  were,  he  said,  men  of  that  suspicious  class  who  passing  be- 
tween both  armies  were  as  often  in  one  camp  as  the  other;  and 
whom  he  himself  should  probably  have  apprehended,  as  was  al- 
ways bis  custom,  had  he  fallen  on  them.    His  wishes  prevailed 
with  the  House,  and  the  petition  was  rejected  by  a  large  majority: 
but  out  of  doors  his  language  was  strongly  criticised  and  his  conduct 
condemned.    Van  Wart  and  Paulding  came  forth  with  affidavits 
declaring  the  imputations  untrue :  and  a  sort  of  autobiography  of 
Williams  confirms  the  statement  that  it  was  no  idea  of  the  captors 
to  negotiate  with  their  prisoner.   Van  Wart  swears  he  had  not,  nor 
did  he  believe  his  comrades  had,  any  intent  of  plundering  Andre ; 
while  Paulding  alleges  they  took  everything  he  had.     The  testi- 
mony on  Smith's  trial  in  1780  shows  that  the  proposal  of  releasing 
Andre  for  money  first  came  from  Williams  and  was  put  a  stop  to 
by  Paulding:  but  we  may  suppose  the  former  to  have  been  insin- 
cere in  his  proffer,  though  it  was  promptly  accepted  by  the  captive. 
In  support  of  Tallmadge's  view.  King,  who  had  the  earliest 
charge  of  Andre',  suggests  that  the  time  and  place  where  the  ar- 
rest occurred  made  the  character  of  the  captors  questionable. 
"  The  truth  is,  to  the  impudence  of  the  men,  and  not  to  the  pa- 
triotism of  any  one  of  them,  is  to  be  attributed  the  capture  of 
Major  Andre."     Major  Shaw  too,  AVashington's  aide,  who  was 
present  in  all  the  proceedings  attendant  on  the  discovery  of  the 
treason,  calls  them  "  militia,  or  rather  a  species  of  freebooters  who 
live  by  the  plunder  they  pick  up  between  the  lines."    A  distin- 
guished English  friend,  whose  father  served  at  the  time  with  Clin- 
ton, has  favored  me  with  what  we  may  suppose  was  the  opinion 
derived  at  New  York  from  Andre's  letters,  —  « I  must  fiankiy  say 
that  my  father  has  repeatedly  told  me  he  was  taken  by  some 


t)jcct  was  simply 

1  for  an  increased 
entatives.  Tall- 
I  minuteness  into 

said  the  captors 
it  they  would  get 
he  fully  believed 
im,  and  that  they 
d  their  demands. 
>  detect  treason ; 
who  passing  be- 
I  the  other ;  and 
ided,  as  was  al- 
(vishes  prevailed 
I  large  majority : 
I  and  his  conduct 
h  with  affidavits 
utobiography  of 
a  of  the  captors 

he  had  not,  nor 
ndering  Andre ; 
bad.  The  testi- 
3sal  of  releasing 
)s  put  a  stop  to 
ave  been  insin- 
I  by  the  captive, 
lad  the  earliest 
G  where  the  ar- 
ra  questionable. 

not  to  the  pa- 
the  capture  of 
aide,  who  was 
liscovery  of  the 
'reebooters  who 
>es."  A  distin- 
time  with  Clin- 
as  the  opinion 
ust  frankly  say 
akcn  by  some 


THE  CAPTORS. 


4G3 


marauders  lying,  av  teas  commonly  the  case,  on  the  neutral  ground 
for  pillage.     That  they  told  him  if  he  could  make  good  his  offers 
anywhei-e  without  going  within  the  lines  they  would  free  him- 
but  on  recent  occasions  young  officers  had  made  promises  and 
had  handed  the  delinquents  over  to  the  Provost-Marshal  on  arriv- 
ing.    This,  and  the  magnitude  of  his  offers,  led  them  to  decide 
on  turning  north  in  lieu  of  south  :  _  nothing  else."    Thus  it  is  es- 
tablished that  what  the  captors  deny  was  maintained  by  Andrd 
himself  and  by  well-informed  officers  of  our  army.    Now  the  rep- 
utation of  Tallmadge,  King,  and  Shaw  is  just  as  good  in  our  eyes 
as  that  of  Paulding,  Van  Wart,  and  Williams :  and  it  certainly 
was  a  great  deal  better  in  their  own  day.    The  only  reason  why 
their  declarations  do  not  weigh  down  the  others  is  that  they  were 
not  eye-witnesses  of  the  scene.    It  is  fair  therefore  to  look  further 
into  the  antecedents  of  the  Captors. 

John  Paulding  their  leader  was  a  lusty  youth,  six  feet  high  and 
just  turned  of  manhood,  and  of  active  spirit.     Twice  had  he  al- 
ready been  taken  to  New  York  a  prisoner,  and  each  time  escaped. 
He  returned  from  his  second  captivity  but  four  days  before  he 
stopped  Andrd.    His  grandfather  Joseph  Paulding  was  a  tenant 
of  the  great  landholder  Philipse  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and 
professing  neutrality  was  not  disturbed.    His  sons  however  are 
represented  as  whigs;  though  I  take  it  that  Joseph,  the  captor's 
father,  was  one  of  those  who,  April  1 1,  1 775,  protested  their  abhor- 
rence of  Congress  and  their  devotion  to  "King  and  Constitution." 
The  old  man  died:  the  farm  was  pillaged:  the  young  men  had 
nothing  to  do  ;  and  on  Paulding's  second  escape  in  tie  dress  of 
a  German  Yager  that  he  got  in  New  York,  he  joined  this  party 
to  way  ay  the  road  and  intercept  the  returning  Cowboys.    The 
act  of  legislature  of  24th  June,  1780,  made  it  lawful  for  any  man 
to  seize  for  his  own  use  cattle  going  to  the  enemy :  under  this  it  is 
said  they  were  sanctioned  in  their  purpose.     Whatever  this  plea 
may  be  worth,  and  even  admitting  a  certain  undisciplined  wild- 
ncss  of  youth,  It  seems  from  his  own  statements  that  Pauldin- 
was  m  his  propensities  decidedly  a  whi"'.  " 

Isaac  Van  Wart  in  his  old  days  most  solemnly  protested  that 
he  never  held  unlawful  intercourse  with  the  enemy  or  visited  their 
camp.  In  opposition  to  this  is  the  assertion  of  one  of  the  tory 
Pines  of  Pine's  Bridge  that  he  knew  Van  Wart  was  a  British 
m,l,t,a-man,  for  he  "  had  been  told  so  by  Van  Wart  himself" 


i    I 


:  III  iiii 


111 

'  I 


1  ( 


4G4 


APPENDIX. 


ir^ 


Ihere  is  also  an  ominous  complaint  preserved  in  Ohio  amon<»  the 
family  papers  of  General  Putnam.  "Mrs.  Hannah  Sniffen  says 
that  Gabriel,  Joseph,  and  Abraham  Riquard,  David  Hunt,  Isaac 
van  Wart,  and  Pardon  Burlingham,  did,  on  the  night  of  the  27th 
ult,  take  from  Mr.  James  Sniffen,  an  inhabitant  of  White  Plains. 
MTithout  C.V.1  or  military  authority,  three  milch  cows,  Tvhich  they 
have  converted  to  their  own  private  use.  Crom  Pond,  July  9tl, 
1780.    Hannah  Sniffen,  in  behalf  of  her  father." 

David  Williams  tells  us  himself  all  we  know  of  him :  he  served 
for  8.x  months  wuh  Montgomery  at  St.  John's,  and  was  till  1 779  in 
the  mduia  of  Westchester  county.  He  narrates  the  marauds  he 
shared  in  while  in  this  service.  In  the  summer  of  1 780  bein.r  out 
of  employ,  he  and  his  friends  «  worked  for  their  board  on  Johnny- 
cake  •  and  occasionally  took  their  guns  and  went  on  the  road, 
van  Wart  was  his  cousin:  and  twice  in  the  summer  they  made 
seizures  of  people  and  cattle.  The  American  civil  authorities  in- 
tertered  iiji  both  instances  and  compelled  restitution.  Then  came 
the  adventure  with  Andrd.  A  monument  on  the  spot  oommemo- 
rates  this  last  event :  nor  are  honorable  memorials  wanting  to  the 
several  graves  of  the  three  captore. 

Mr.  Headley  thinks  Paulding  alone  was  free  from  the  char-e  of 
seeking  to  bargain  with  their  prisoner.  The  public  at  large  be- 
lieve them  pure  alike,  and  honorable.  I  cannot  for  my  own 
part  but  confess  that  there  was  at  least  colorable  ground  for  the 
conclusion  of  Tallmadge;  but  the  encouragement  of  Washington 
and  Congress  and  their  own  solemn  affidavits  are  two  serious^ob- 
stacles  to  an  implicit  faith  in  its  truth. 


No.  III. 

VERSES  CONNECTED  WITH  ANDRE'S  EXECUTION. 

WHETnER  or  not  Andre  composed  a  sort  of  farewell  son«  be- 
fore  he  died,  it  is  certain  he  has  had  the  reputation  of  doing  so. 
The  doughty  Sergeant  Lamb  of  the  Fusileers,  in  his  Journal  of 
the  American  War  (p.  838),  gives  a  hymn  of  nine  verses  as  hav- 


Vi^KSKS  CONNECTED  WITH  ANDKfiS  EXECUTION.      463 

ing  been  written  by  Andro'  in  his   confinemenf     Th 

stanza  will  I  fancy  be  sufficient:        '°""""'"""^-     ^ho  opening 

ITail,  sovereign  love,  which  first  began 
J  he  scheme  to  rescue  fallen  man ! 
Hail  matchless,  free,  eternal  grace 
AVhich  gave  my  soul  a  hiding  place ' 

S:.SX«  it!;:.-  "^  ■~rr'  •"'-■-■'•. 

"  una  dindo  sauvage."    After  the  toHs  nf  fh!  ?  ^  ^'"'"« 

fiavH  lio  .      «  r>  °'"  °*  *"®  chase  were  ended 

says  he :_«  Pour  reposer  la  conversation,  M.  Bulow  disal  ,1. 
temps  k  autre  ii  sa  fiUe  alnde:  ^Mariahl  give  us  a  son,'    Ft 

«rdA„d^rr"  "rf  Mi.eella„y:  N„r.h4to„,  7m      1 

Amencan  Antiquarian  Society.    It  is  entitled  J^^^MaTorrndJ^' 

as  Andrd's  own  than  as  a  matter  of  curiosity.  ^  ^'' 

Ah  Delia!  see  the  fatal  hour!  farewell,  my  soul's  delight 

?o  It  ''Y'''''''^  ^"'"'"^  "^«'  ^'^"^  bknish'd  from  thy  si^ht? 
To  my  fond  heart  no  rival  joy  supplies  the  loss  of  the"     ^    ° 
But  who  can  tell  if  thou,  my  dear,  will  e'er  remember  me? 

Yet  while  my  restless,  wand'ring  tho'ts  pursue  their  lost  rcnosp 
Lnweaned  may  they  trace  the  path  where'er  my  DeUa  g^es  ' 
Forever  Damon  shall  be  there  attendant  still  on  thee.  ' 

But  who  can  tell  ^-c. 

ttVlu'"''^  ""frequented  wilds,'with  pensive  steps  I  rove 
I  ask  the  rocks,  I  ask  the  trees,  where  dwells  my  distan  bve? 
The  sWent  eve,  the  rosy  mom,  my  constant  searches  see. 
Hut  who  can  tell  (fc. 

Oft  I'll  review  the  smiling  scenes,  each  fav'rite  brook  and  tree 
Where  ga.ly^pass'd  those  happy  hours,  those  hou«  I  pass'd  wi'th  thea 


li^  i 


466 


AITENDIX. 


'I-      •:! 


What  painful,  fon«l  memorlnls  rise  from  every  place  I  nee ! 
All !  who  can  tfil  (JV. 

How  many  rivul  votaries  soon  their  Bott  nddrosn  shall  move; 
Surround  thee  in  thy  now  abode,  an<l  tempt  thy  soul  to  Love: 
Ah,  who  ean  tell  what  sighing  crowd*  their  tender  homage  pny; 
Ah,  who  eaii  tell  i/c. 

Think,  Delia,  with  how  deep  a  wound  the  sweetly  painful  dnrt, 
Which  thy  remembrance  leaves  behind  has  piere'd  a  ho|K;les8  heart: 
Think   .n  this  fatal,  sad  adieu,  which  severs  nie  from  tlice: 
Ah !  who  can  tell  tjc 

How  can  I  speak  the  last  farewell;  what  cares  distress  my  mind; 
How  can  I  go  to  realms  of  bliss  and  leave  my  love  behind ! 
When  Angels  wing  me  to  the  skies  I'd  fain  return  to  theo: 
But  who  can  tell  (fc. 

Tho  concluding  verse  is  not  to  bo  found  in  the  version  of  the 
Repertory. 

What  Andre  may  have  neglected  himself,  other  hands  supplied. 
The  Literary  Miscellany  (Stourport:  J.  Nicholson;  1812),  vol. 
vii.,  declares  the  lines  to  Delia  beginning  "  Return,  enraptured 
hours "  were  composed  in  his  imprisonment.  Othei-s  formed  his 
praises  into  a  Glee,  wherewith  to  compose  the  souls  of  aldermen 
at  corporation  feasts. 

A  4  VOC.  r.VXTON.* 

Itound  the  hapless  Andre's  urn 

Be  the  cypress  foliage  spread ; 
Fragrant  spice  profusely  bum. 

Honours  grateful  to  the  dead : 
Let  a  soldier's  manly  form 

Guard  the  vase  his  ashes  bears ; 
Truth,  in  living  sorrow  warm. 

Pay  a  mourning  nation's  tears. 
^  Fame,  his  praise  upon  thy  wing. 

Through  the  world  dispersing  toll ; 
In  the  service  of  his  King, 

lu  his  Country's  cause  he  fell ! 

But  it  was  his  friend  Miss  Seward  who  at  greatest  length  and 
with  most  applause  brought  Poetry  to  lament  Andrew's  fate.  From 
the  beginning  to  the  end  this  lady  was  au  courant  as  to  the  army 
in  America;  and  I  have  heard  that  from  her  Scott  got  the  premises 

♦TTol.Vv'3  Glee?,  ao  sung  at  the  Crown  and  Anchor  Tavern:  London, 
1794. 


e  I  «e« ! 


mil  move ; 
)iil  to  Love: 
iiomagc  pay ; 


painful  dart, 
1  a  lio|)eIeg8  heart! 
im  tlice : 


rcs8  iny  mind ; 
I  behind ! 
to  thco : 

the  version  of  the 

!r  hands  supplied. 
Ison;  1812),  vol. 
Jturn,  enraptured 
)thcr3  formed  his 
souls  of  aldermen 


latest  length  and 
Jrd's  fate.  From 
t  as  to  the  army 
t  got  the  premises 

r  Tavern:  London, 


VERSKS  CONNECTED  WITH  ANDHlLs  EXECUTION.     4C7 

of  The  Tapestried  ChandM^n    She  had  for  several  years  been  a.- 
customed  to  pour  forth  her  verses  among  a  party  of  ,.oct"  of 

fir^:;  T  T'":'  "^"^'^•^'*^^^  undef  the'aus'pieea':;t.; 
Mdler,  and  whose  bantl.ngs  were  printed  in  four  volumes  in  17H1 

mutably  descnbes  the  whole  assembly  that  we  will  tresp^s  a  litt^ 

to  g.  vo  the.r  account  in  his  own  wonls :  -  "  You  must  know,  Mala. 

hat  near  Bath  .s  ereeted  a  new  Parnassus,  composed  o(  three 

aurc  s  a  n      ,„.,ree,  a  weeping-willow,  and  a  view  of  the  Av    . 

vl.ali  has  boen  new-chnstened   Helicon.      Tun  years  a.^o  there 

hveda  Madam  Riggs  an  old  rough  humourist  wL  passed  t^^ 

Ml'     %  ,f  "f  ^^••'/''^  P^«e'»  for  nothing,  married  to  a  Captain 

M.ller,  full  of  good-natured  ofllciousness.     These  good  folks  were 

L'nlw  1  "V"^''';:'"  ^^"'^"^  "^^  *°  ^'"«  -^'^  *'-^^  ^'  ««theas- 
ta  c  bu.lt  and  planted,  and  begot  children,  till  the  whole  caravan 
Merq  forced  to  go  abroad  to  retrieve.     Alas!  Mrs.  Miller  is  re- 

Midi""-  n'"2''  ',^'"'"''  ^  ®'PP^*°'  ^  ^'^"^''  ^^"««'  ^'  r^'^'-^-'tie  as 
Mademoiselle  Sender,,  and  as  unsophisticated  as  Mrs.  Vesey.    The 

Captains  fingers  are  loaded  with  cameos,  his  tongue  runs  over 

-th  r,r/«,  and  that  both  ..ay  contribute  to  the  improvement  of 

o:er"r"*T\^^  as  a  new  dis- 

co^ery.     Ihey  hold  a  Parnassus-ftvir  every  Thursday,  ^ive  out 
rhymes  a.jd  themes,  and   all  the  flux  of  quality  at  Ba^th  con- 
tend for  the  pnzes.    A  Roman  vase  dressed  with  pink  ribbons 
and  myrtles  receives  the  poetry,  which  is  drawn  out  every  festival : 
s.xjudges  of  these  Olympic  games  retire  and  select  the  bri-d.tes 
compositions,  which  the  respective  successful  acknowledge,  kneel 
to  Mrs.  Calhope  Miller,  kiss  her  fair  hand,  and  are  crownei  by 
v..  h  myrtle,  w.th  _  I  don't  know  what.     You  may  think  this  is 
fiction  or  exaggeration.     Be  dumb,  unbelievers !    The  collection 
.s  printed  pubhshed.  -  Yes,  on  my  faith,  there  are  bouts-rimcs  on 
a  butteiod  mufhn,  made  by  her  Grace  the  Duchess  of  Northum- 
berland ;  receipts  to  make  them  by  Corydon  the  venerable,  alias 
George  Pit  ;   others  veiy  pretty  by  Lord  Palmerston  ;  sor;.e  by 
Lord  Carlisle ;  many  by  Mrs.  Miller  herself,  that  have  no  fault 
but  wanting  rnetre ;  and  immortality  promised  to  her  without  end 
or  measure.    In  short,  since  folly  which  never  ripens  to  madness 
but  .n  this  hot  climate,  ran  distracted,  there  never  was  anything 

TeerteUin  "'""  '''  '°  '^""  ~  "'  ''°"  """"""^  ''^'^  '^  ^""=  "^  '  ''^^^ 


t , 


468 


APPENDIX. 


Under  such  friendly  auspices  Miss  Seward  wrote  her  Monody 
on  Andrd.  a  poem  of  considerable  merit,  which  has  possessed 
greater  popularity  than  any  other  of  her  writings  and  has  gone 
through  numerous  editions.  Its  objurgations  of  Washington  were 
regarded  as  just  censure  by  many  of  her  admirers,  who  considered 
his  reputation  snuffed  out  like  a  candle  by  Miss  Seward's  elo- 
quence: 

Thy  pen,  more  potent  than  Ithuriel's  spear 
Strips  from  the  ruthless  Chief  his  corselet's  pride, 
And  shews  his  heart  of  Noro's  colour  dy'd. 

And  indeed  she  herself  esteemed  it  highly.  To  commemorate 
the  death  of  Lady  Miller,  she  invokes  the  same  Muse  that  had 
then  befriended  her:  — 

Ye,  who  essay'd  to  weave  the  golden  thread. 
And  gem  with  flow'rs  the  woof  of  high  applause 
The  pious  veil  o'er  shroudless  Andre  spread, 
'        O'er  Andre,  murder'd  in  his  country's  cause. 

That  his  memory  might  rest  in  literature  like  Garrick  in  the 
picture  between  the  Tragic  and  the  Comic  Muse,  James  Smith 
has  added  his  mite  to  Miss  Seward's  labors,  in  a  pretended  vol- 
ume of  letters  from  America  called  Milk  and  Honey,  or  the  Land 
of  Promise :    Letter  vii. ;  Mr.  Richard  Barrow  to  Mr.  Robert 


Briggs. 


—  Bob,  Jonathan's  queer;  he  is  mizzled  a.  ration, 
He  does  not  half-stomach  a  late  exhumation ; 
Some  cuUs,  here,  have  taken  to  grubbing  the  clay 
That  tucks  up  the  body  of  Major  Andrd. 
With  yon  resurrectionists,  that  is  not  verj' 
Unusual,  who  dig  up  as  fast  as  you  bury. 
And  charge  iron  coffins  the  devil's  own  fee  — 
(Lord  Stowel  there  buried  the  poor  patentee,) 
But  here,  Bob,  the  gabies  have  not  come  to  that. 
Would  you  fancy  it?    Jonathan's  yet  such  &flat 
As  to  think,  when  a  corpse  has  been  waked  by  a  train 
Of  mourners,  'tis  wicked  to  wake  it  again. 

Sfethinks  j'ou're  for  asking  me  who  A.ndrd  was? 
(Book-learning  and  you,  Bob,  ain't  cronies,  that's  pos.) 
I'll  tell  you,  Andrd,  urged  by  arguments  weightj'. 
Went  out  to  New  York  Anno  Domini  '80. 
lie  quitted  the  land  of  his  fathers  to  bleed 
In  war,  all  alonjr  of  his  love  for  Miss  Snevd : 


wrote  her  Monody 
licli  has  possessed 
ings  and  has  gone 
'  Washington  were 
jrs,  who  considered 
Miss  Seward's  elo- 

»r 

;'8  pride, 

d. 

To  commemorate 
ne  Muse  that  had 


iad, 

pplause 
Eld, 
ise. 

:e  Garrick  in  the 
use,  James  Smith 
a  pretended  vol- 
loney,  or  the  Land 
If  to  Mr.  Robert 

ration, 
on; 
;he  clay 


COLONEL  TALLMADGE  TO  GENERAL  HEATH.        469 

But,  finding  his  name  not  enroll'd  in  a  high  line 

Of  lank  for  promotion,  he  took  to  the  Spy-line. 

He  sew'd  in  his  stocking  a  letter  from  Arnold: 

A  sentinel  nahb'd  it  —  why  didn't  the  darn  hold  ? 

Or  why,  when  he  stitch'd  it  up,  didn't  he  put 

The  letter  between  his  sole-leather  and  foot? 

By  mashing  it,  then,  he  had  'scap'd  all  disaster. 

As  Pipes  mash'd  the  letter  of  Pickle,  his  master. 

Within  the  lines  taken,  a  prisoner  brought  off, 

They  troubled  him  with  a  line  more  than  he  thought  of; 

For,  finding  the  young  man's  despatches  not  trim, 

To  shorten  my  story,  Bob,  they  despatch'd  him. 

He  long  might  have  slept  with  the  ci-devant  crew. 

As  soundly  as  here  other  buried  men  do; 

But  fashion,  as  somebody  says  on  the  stage. 

In  words  and  in  periwigs  will  have  her  rage. 

The  notion  of  bringing  dead  people  away 

Began  upon  Paine,  and  went  on  to  Andr^ ; 

The  Yankees  thought  Cobbett  was  digging  for  dibs, 

But  when  out  he  trundled  a  thighbone  and  ribs, 

They  did  not  half-like  it;  and  cried  with  a  groan, 

"  Since  poor  Tom's  a-cold,  why  not  leave  him  alone?  " 

American  writers  have  also  made  the  story  their  fictitious  theme. 
Ihe  tragedy  of  Arnold,  that  of  Andre,  and  the  verses  of  Mr.  Wil- 
lis  and  Mr.  Miller  have  at  various  times  been  given  to  the  public. 


\mw 


je,) 
3  that. 
i  ajlat 
i  by  a  train 


5  was? 

i,  that's  pos.) 

veighty. 


No.  IV. 

COLONEL  BENJAMIN  TALLMADGE  TO  GENERAL  HEATH. 

[From  the  Heath  MSS.] 

Pine\<!  Bridge,  Oct.  10th,  ITSO.-Deau  General:  Since  my 
return  from  Head  Quartern  a  few  days  since,  I  have  been  honored 
with  your  agreeable  favor  of  the  21st  ulL  with  its  enclosed  from 
Mr.  Broome,  as  also  another  of  the  30th  ult.  I  am  much  obli^red 
to  you  for  your  kind  attention  in  forxuaHip'r  "i"  h-ti—  *-»  »*- 
Broome  as  well  as  his  Returns  to  me. 


470 


APPENDIX. 


M        ( 


I'  '    f  • 


Before  this  readies  you,  the  information  of  Major  Andre's  exe- 
cution must  undoubtedly  have  been  received.     Thro'  tlie  course 
of  his  Tryal  and  Confinement  (during  which  I  had  the  charge  of 
hun  a  great  part  of  the  time)  he  behaved  with  that  fortitude  which 
did  him  great  honor.    He  made  every  confession  to  the  Court 
which  was  necessary  to  convict  him  of  being  a  Spy,  but  said 
nothing  of  his  accomplices.     During  his  confinement  I  became 
intimately  acquainted  with  him ;  and  I  must  say  (nor  am  I  alone 
in  the  opinion)  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  accomplished  youn<r 
gentlemen   I   ever  was   acquainted  with.      Such   ease   and   af^ 
fability  of  manners,  polite  and  genteel  deportment,  added  to  an 
enlarged  understanding,  made  him  the  idol  of  General  Clinton 
and  the  B.  army.     On  the  day  of  his  execution  he  was  most  ele- 
gantly dressed  in  his  full  regimentals,  and  marched  to  the  destined 
ground  with  as  much  ease  and  cheerfulness  of  countenance  as  if 
he  had  been  going  to  an  Assembly  room.    Tho'  his  fate  was  just, 
yet  to  scte  so  promising  a  youth  brought  to  the  gallows  drew  a  tear 
from  almost  every  spectator.    He  seemed,  while  with  me,  to  be 
almost  unmindful  of  his  fate,  and  only  regretted  his  disappoint- 
ment. 

Since  Arnold  has  been  at  New  York,  he  has  flung  into  the 
Provost  many  of  our  friends  whom  he  will  have  punished  if  pos- 
sible. I  fear  it  will  injure  the  chains  of  our  intelligence,  at  least 
lor  a  little  time,  till  the  present  tumult  is  over.  I  am  happy  that 
he  does  not  know  even  a  single  link  in  my  chain.  His  Excel- 
lency General  Washington  has  undoubtedly  given  you  the  partic- 
ular of  the  whole  hellish  plot,  which  was  laid  to  have  nearly  over- 
thrown the  liberties  of  this  country.  So  providential,  I  had  ajmost 
said  miraculous  a  detection  of  such  deep-laid  viUany  can  hardly  be 
found  in  the  history  of  any  people. 

Joshua  Smith,  an  accomplice  with  Arnold,  was  under  arrest 
when  I  left  Head  Quarters  a  few  days  since,  and  will  doubtless  be 
punished  capitally. 

Oct.  nth  — I  have  this  moment  received  information  from  my 
agents  at  New  York,  but  no  letters.  Tho  conduct  of  that  in- 
famous Arnold  has  been  such  since  his  arrival  at  New  York  that 
our  friends,  who  were  not  even  suspected,  are  too  much  agitated 
at  the  present  juncture  to  favor  us  with  intelligence  as  usual.  I 
hone  in  a  little  time  the  storm  will  blow  over,    i  have  two  ac- 


fajov  Andre's  exc- 
Thro'  the  course 
bad  the  charge  of 
lat  fortitude  which 
sion  to  the  Court 
a  Spy,  but  said 
lement  I  became 
'  (nor  am  I  alone 
2omplishe(2  young 
ch   ease    and   af- 
lent,  added  to  an 
General  Clinton 
he  was  most  de- 
ed to  the  destined 
countenance  as  if 
his  fate  was  just, 
Hows  drew  a  tear 
e  with  me,  to  be 
d  his  disappoint- 


COLOXEI.  TALLMADGE  TO  GENERAL  HEATH.   47J 

counts  from  New  York,  but  neither  thro'  my  old  channel ;  one  of 
which  is  that  the  enemy  have  embarked  a  considerable  body  of 
troops  and  were  put  to  sea ;  another  that  their  embarkation  goes 
on  very  slowly. 

The  letter  herewith  sent  please  to  forward  to  Mr.  Broome. 
With  compliments  to  the  gentlemen  of  your  family,  I  am,  &c. 

r.  S.  His  Excellency  General  V/ashington,  with  the  Light 
Infantry,  the  Pennsylvania,  Connecticut,  and  Massachusetts  Litres, 
has  moved  lower  down  New  Jersey,  near  Posaick  falls.  General 
Green  with  the  New  Jersey,  New  York  and  New  Hampshire 
Lines,  has  gone  to  West  Point. 


13  flung  into  the 
punished  if  pos- 
illigenee,  at  least 
I  am  happy  that 
ain.  His  Excel- 
1  you  the  partic- 
lave  nearly  ovei'- 
:ial,  I  had  ajmost 
ly  can  hardly  be 

as  under  arrest 
will  doubtless  be 


III  !l 


iiil': 


I 


ill! 


•mation  from  my 
luct  of  that  in- 
New  York  that 
)  much  agitated 
nee  as  usual.  I 
I  have  two  ac- 


'  '■    si 


,L4 


■It 

1 

Wi 

1 

•f 

it 

INDEX. 


Adams,  John,  ecstacy  of,  over  a  Phila- 
delphia dinner,  119. 

American  affairs  desperate,  but  retrieved 
at  Trenton  and  Princeton,  97. 

American  spies,  cases  of,  440-442. 

Amherst,  Lord,  advice  of,  In  event  of  the 
French  alliance,  160. 

Arbuthnot,  Admiral,  account  o^  222. 
.Clinton's  army  carried  south  by  fleet 

Army,  British,  defective  organization  of, 

Deserters   from,  become   American 

drill-masters,  64. 
Officers  of;  gross  private  conduct  o^ 

Pigtails  uniform,  but  noses  hregular 
In,  44. 
Andre,  Mn^or  John,  ancestry  of,  1,  2,  6. 
Aide  of  General  Grey,  appointment  ot, 

Vsf. 

American  lines,  eflbrt  to  leave  the, 
by,  802.  ' 

Answers,  frank  and  Ingenuous,  of,  353. 

Army,  M)pointment  in,  and  views 
thereof  by  Lord  Mahon,  Sparks, 
and  Miss  Seward,  89-41. 

Arnold's  capture  necessary  to  save, 
863. 

Arnold's  correspondence  with,220, 273 

Arnold's  offer  to  be  exchangee''  for 
876.  ' 

Arnold,  Mrs.,  letter  to,  by,  220. 

Bhlh,  education,  and  accomplish- 
ments o^  6,  7,  88. 

Boots  ot,  papers  concealed  in  the. 
296-298.  ' 

Business,  aversion  to,  subdued  by,  27. 

Canada,  on  his  way  to,  visit  to  Phila- 
delphia o^  42-44. 

Carlisle,  at,  imprisonment  of,  90-92. 

Charleston,  letter  from  before,  by,  225. 

Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  letters  to,  by,  277, 
860. 

Composure  and  firmness  In  his  last 
moments  o^  871. 

Condemnation  and  order  for  the  exe- 
cution of  S5A. 


Andr6,  consultation  of  English  offlclals  on 

the  case  of;  878. 
Cope,  Caleb,  correspondence  with,  bv. 

89-96.  ^    •'' 

Cornwallis,  view  by,  of  the  fate  ot,  420. 
Counting-house  of  his  father,  a  clerk 

in,  9. 
Courage  and  coolness  of,  470. 
Courtship  of  Miss  Sneyd  ended  by, 

Cow-chase,  the,  by,  236, 249. 
Death-sentence  and  manly  conduct 

of;  868. 
Deputation  from  CUnton  to  save,  871- 

878. 
Despard,  Colonel,  a  fellow-prisoner  o£ 

91,  98,  95.  ^ 

Dream  of  Cunningham,  prophetic  of 

the  fate  of;  42.   °       ^  *     *^ 
Dream  of  his  sister  foreshadowlnc 

the  fkte  o^  406. 
Dream  written  by,  213-217. 
Dress  in  elegant  reghnentals  at  his 

execution,  by,  470. 
Drop-scene  painted  by,  154. 
^^m     ^"^^  ""^  Gadsden,  by,  203- 

Edgeworth's  view  of  the  courtshlo 
by,  80.  ^ 

Exchange  of  regiments  by,  199. 

Execution  and  preparation  therefor, 
by,  892-899.  ' 

Execution  of,  postponement  of  the. 

Oil. 

Farewell  letters,  verses,  and  sketch 
by,  892. 

^ate  0^  not  altogether  unhappy,  444- 
446, 

Gage's  camp  at  Boston  visited  by,  54. 
Gentle  and  humane  nature  of,  288. 
Germany  visited  by,  41. 
Ghost-story  prefiguring  the  fhte  of, 

loo. 

Grief  of  Americans  for  fete  of,  899, 

Hamilton  obtains  privilege  of  writine 
for,  359,  360.  * 

Honora  Sneyd  courted  by,  12-16. 

Imprisonment,  manner  of  the,  of  90, 
ou2. 


474 


INDEX. 


I 


Andr6,  intcniow  of,  with  Arnold  pre- 
vented, 2(U. 

Jaineson,  Lieutenant  -  Colonel  re- 
ceives, 821. 

Journal  and  memoir  of  the  war  bv,  99. 

Knox,  General,  adventure  o^  with,  85. 

I^ancaster,  prisoner  at,  drawing 
taught  by,  86-89. 

Liberation  by  exchange  ot,  96. 

IJkeness  of  hliuself  executed  by,  870. 

MlBchianza,  account  of  the,  by,  167- 

Ogden,  Captain,  mission  of;  and  its 

failure  to  save,  806. 
Paulding,  Williams,  and  Van  Wart, 

arrest  and  search,  812-815. 
Pension  to  the  family  o^  408. 
Personal  appearance  o^  160, 222. 
Philadelphia  visited  by,  perhaps  to 

observe  Coiif^icss,  44. 
Piozzi,  Mrs.,  and  the  undo  of,  2. 
Prisoner,  is  taken,  at  Fort  Chumbly, 
80.  •'' 

Pi-omotion  and  appreciation  of  the 

worth  oi,  199. 
Eemains  removed  to  England,  and 
burial  in  Westmhister  Abbey,  of, 
409t411. 
Kewards  for  the  success  of,  267. 
Sentence  ot;  justice  of  the,  considered 

by  various  authors,  418-444. 
Seward,  Miss  Anna,  letters  to,  by,  17- 

2o. 
Soward,  Miss,  the  will  of,  and  Ilono- 

ra's  picture  by,  84. 
Sheldon,  Colonel,  letter  to,  by,  262. 
Simcoe  and  Ileniy  Lee  attempt  to 

save,  874. 
Simcoe's  opmion  of  the  case  of,  421. 
Simcoo's  order  of  mourning  for,  404. 
Smith,  Joshua  Ilett,  parts  from,  305. 
Spy  at  Charleston  supposed  to  be,  228. 
Statement  of  his  case  written  by,  349. 
Theatrical  tastes  of,  53. 
Trial  by  court-martial  of,  347-356. 
Washington,  letter  to,  avowing  him- 
self to  be,  324-826. 
Webb,  Colonel  Samuel  B.,  met  bJ^  311. 
Whitman,  Lieutenant,  release  of,  bv. 
114.  •" 

Will  of,  402. 

Yankee  Doodle's  expedition  In  Khodo 
Island  by,  195-197. 
Andre,  Captain  Williaui  Lewis,  cre.ited  a 

bai-onet,  403. 

Arnold,  General  lienedict,  Andre's  arrest, 

and  lliglit  to  the  Vulture,  of,828, 329. 

Andre's  interview  with,  prevented, 

264.  11, 

Andre,  letter  to,  by,  259. 

Andre,  con'esponclenco  with,  of,  220- 

273. 
Chastellnx,  translation  of,  remarks  in, 

supposed  to  be  by,  458. 
Clinton.  Sh-  Henry,  letter  to,  by,  844. 
Clinton's  narrative  of  the  treason  of, 

415-419. 


Arnold,  concealment  among  the  trees,  of, 

England,  reception  in,  ot,  463. 

Indignation,  feeling  of.  agahist,  a39. 

Monis   and   Battersby,  dispute   of, 
about,  466,  467. 

Ode  In  England  addressed  to,  454. 

Passports  for  Andrd  and  Smith  given 
bv,  288-298. 

Philadelphia,  feeling  In,  against,  451, 
462. 

Price  paid  for  the  treason  ot,  460. 

Proposal,  the  first,  to,  447-449. 

Kobinson,  Beverly,  letter  to,  by,  2^, 

Trading  voyage  by,  460. 
Arnold,  Mrs.,  appeal  of,  to  remain  in  Phil- 
adelphia, rejected,  463. 


Barren  Hill,  Lafeyette  at  the  battle  of,  161. 
Biddle,  Charles  J.,  and  Lord  Mahon,  ex- 
ponents of  American  and  English 
opinion  hi  case  of  Andrd,  434. 
Board  of  general  officers  to  try  Andr6. 81S. 
Loots  of  Andre,  a  valuable  prize,  813-816. 
Boston,  British  forces  at,  63-66. 

Massacre,  Warren's  oration  on  the. 

at,  67. 
Provisions,  fresh,  easily  obtained  in, 
66. 

South  Church  as  a  ridhig-school  in, 
68. 
Bowman,  Captain  Samuel,  statement  of 

Andre's  capture  bv,  317,  318. 
Brandywine,  battle  of,  107, 108. 
Burgoyno,  General,  surrender  ot,  105. 
Burke,  Edmund,  denounchig  Lafayette, 

Byron,  Lord,  description  of  Edgeworth 
by,  81. 

Buchanan,  British  consul,  removes  An- 
dre's remains  to  England,  408-410. 


Cadwalader,  General,  anecdote  of,  160. 
Caldwell,  Eev.  James,  wife  of,  shot,  247. 
Canada,  contentment  of  the  i)eopIe  of,  73. 
Captors  of  Andre,  rc\iew  of  the  character 

of  the,  461-464. 
Carleton,  Sir  Guy,  prudent  ndrahilstra- 

tion  of  the  Cansulas  by,  72. 
Cathcart,  Loi-d,  account  of,  i47. 
Caucus  bi-ought  in  use  by  Adams  and 

others,  60. 
Cliambly,  Fort,  surrendered   by   Major 

Stopford,  80. 
Champe,  Sergeant,  discrepancies  in  ad- 
venture of,  accounted  for,  451. 
Charleston,  siege  and  fell  of,  225-227. 
Chastellux,   remarks   on    statements   in 

translation  of,  supposed  to  be  by 

Arnold,  458,  459. 
Chew's  house,  hitrepid  attack  on,  114. 
Clinton,  General  James,  sketch  of  the 

character  of,  430. 


iiL 


^l^%»5K'.feS5»«fiU«k-i> 


t  amonp  the  trees,  of, 

Hon  in,  ot,  458. 
ilinff  of,  against,  339. 
lattersby,  dlepute   of, 

I  addressed  to,  45i. 
ndro  and  Smith  given 

cling  in,  against,  451, 

ie  treason  of,  450. 

•St,  to,  447-449. 

rly,  letter  to,  by,  2S4. 

by,  460. 

of,  to  remain  in  Plill- 
Jted,  453. 

B 

ie  at  tlie  battle  of,  161. 
nd  Lord  Mahon,  ex- 
mcrican  and  English 
e  of  Andrd,  434. 
iers  to  try  Andr6. 848. 
iluable  prize,  813-316. 
8  at,  63-65. 
en's  oration  on  the, 

1,  easily  obtained  in, 

s  a  riding-school  in, 

imuel,  statement  of 
re  bv,  817,  818. 
f,  107, 108. 
surrender  ot,  105. 
nouncing  Lafayette, 

ption  of  Edgeworth 

onsnl,  removes  An- 
to  England,  408-410. 


anecdote  of,  100. 
,  wife  of,  shot,  247. 
of  the  people  of,  73. 
-lew  of  the  character 

irudcnt  admlnlstra- 

Mlas  by,  72. 

nt  of,  147. 

ISO  by  Adams  and 

endered   by   Major 

iserepancies  in  ad- 
mnted  for,  451. 
fall  of,  225-227. 
on   statements   in 
supposed  to  1)6  l)y 

1  attack  on,  114. 
les,  sketch  of  the 


INDEX. 


475 


Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  Andr6  charged  to  re- 
tain his  nnilbrm  and  not  receive 
papers,  by,  275. 
Burgoyne  felled  to  bo  relievca  by, 

102-106. 
Germain,  Lord  George,  despatch  to, 

by,  407. 
Howe's  plans,  remarks  on,  bv,  98, 
Howe,  Sir  William,  succeeded  by,  164. 
Order,  announcing  death  of  Andr6, 

ot,  404. 
Kobertson's  letter  to,  878. 
Washington,  letters  to,  by,  872-885. 
Congress  fails  to  excite  discontent  in  Can- 
ada—resentment therein,  78. 
Congress,  inclination  of;  as  to  Andr6,  867. 
Coudray  plans  the  works  at  Ked  Bank, 

180. 
Court-martial  on  Andr6,  character  of  the 

officers  composing  the,  42.3-488. 
Cow-boys  and  Skinners,  attempt  to  re- 
press the  disorders  of  the,  809. 
Division  of  the  neutral  ground  and 

spoliation  of  both  sides  by,  807. 
Napoleon  and  Wellington  effectually 
repress  such  characters  as,  809. 
Crusoe,  Robinson,  liangs  birds  in  chains 
with  good  effect,  863. 


Day,  Thomas,  eccentric  treatment  of 
young  ladies,  and  courtship  of 
Honora  Sneyd,  by,  82,  88. 

Dobb's  Ferry,  Andre  meets  Arnold  at,  263. 

Donop,  Count,  fhilure  to  take  Ked  Bank, 
and  death  of,  129. 

Drewy,  Instance  of  Andr6's  humanity,  by, 
233. 


E 


by 


Easton,  Colonel,  is  heartily  kicked 
Arnold,  75. 

Edgeworth,  Eichard  Lovell,  marries  Ho- 
nora, and  afterward,  Elizabeth 
Sneyd,  86,  87. 

England,  false-views  in,  and  effect  in  the 
colonics,  60. 


F 


Fat  and  well-dressed  officers,  anecdote 
of;  144. 

Franks,  Miss,  the  celebrated  and  fascinat- 
ing, 166. 


G 


Gage,  General,  the  appointment  and  char- 
acter of,  60, 61. 

Galloway,  Joseph,  view  of  Howe's  cam- 
paign, by,  185. 

Germantown,  battle  of,  112-116. 

Ghost-stories,  Andre's  fate  foreshown  by, 
42, 18S,  408. 


GIrardot,  ihmily-name  of  Andrfi's  mother, 

Glover,  General,  character  ot  481. 

Granada,  plunder  of  the  Island  oi;  221. 

Grant,  Captain  Coiquhoun,  the  ihmous 
English  spy,  489. 

Greene,  General,  character  of,  426. 

General  Order  to  the  army  on  Ar- 
nold's treason,  by,  842. 
Eol)ertson,  letter  to,  by,  880. 

Grey,  General  Sir  Charles,  Baron  Grey  do 
Howick,  character  of;  99, 100. 

Gustavus,  Arnold  writes  under  the  name 
of;  269. 

n 

Hale,  Nathan,  case  of,  executed  as  a  spy, 

841.  .  '•" 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  aversion  of,  to  a 

counting-house,  16. 
Khidly  feeling  for  Andrfi,  of,  857, 358. 
Urges  shooting  Instead  of  hanging 

Andr6,870. 
Hand,  General  Edward,  character  ot,  482. 
Harry  and  Lucy,  Edgeworth's  story  of; 

86. 
Headless  soldier,  account  of  the,  253. 
Heath,  General,  view  of  Andre's  captors 

by,  820. 
Hessians,  English  and  American  feeling 

against,  128. 
Howe,  General  Robert,  char  cter  of;  428, 
Howe,  Sh:  William,  character  of,  187-142. 
Incompetency  at  Long  Island,  of;  96. 
Howes,  ancestry  of  the,  186. 
Huntington,  General  Jededlah,  character 

ot  433.  • 


Independence,  diversity  of  feeling  in  the 
colonies  as  to,  62. 
Early  feeling  not  for,  46. 
Secret  plans  to  secure,  47,  48. 
Insubordination,  and   Schuyler  vdW  no 
longer  coax,  wheedle,  or  oven  lie,  79. 
Iron  mask,  man  of  the,  443. 


Jackson,  Major  William,  good  treatment 
of,  by  Andr6,  358. 

Jameson,  Lieutenant  -  Colonel,  prudent 
course  of;  on  receiving  Andre,  821, 
822. 

Jersey,  New,  strategy  of  Howe  and  Wash- 
ington in,  101. 

K 

Kegs,  battle  of  the,  158. 

King,  General,  statement  of  Andre's  cap- 
ture by,  816,  817,  823. 

E[nights  of  the  Mountain  and  the  Rose, 
difference  between  the,  181. 

Knox,  General  Ueui-y,  character  of;  431. 


I 


476 


INDEX. 


i 


I 


Lafayette,  chnracter  ond  English  onluion 

of.  420,  427. 
Lamb,  Colonel,  urpes  Arnold  to  refUso 

Robinson  an  interview,  270. 
Leo,  General  Charles,  at  Monmouth,  188. 
Lichfield,  sketch  of  the  society  at,  11. 
Livingston  attacks  and   drives  oflf  the 

Vulture,  292. 
Livingston,  Miss  Susannah,  a  writer,  243. 


McLono,  Colonel,  patriotism  and  enter- 
prise of;  116. 
Magna  Charta  and  the  Iron  Barons,  200. 
Mahon,  Lord,  view  of  Andre's  case  bv. 
484.  •" 

Marbols,  Barbfi,  entertainment  of  Lafa- 
vetto  by,  263,  264. 
Clinton  urged  Arnold  to  a  speedy 
surrender  of  West  Point,  asserted 
by,  265. 
Market    people   receive    two    hundred 

lashes,  159. 
Massachusetts,  bishops  viewed  with  ter- 
ror In^  59. 
Clergy,  enormous  Influence  of.  In,  68. 
Congress  of.  Provincial,  meets  at  Sa- 
lem, In,  61. 
Earth  and  hell  said  to  be  combined 

against,  59. 
Indians  of  Stockbridge  induced  to 

flght  by,  68,  69. 
Indians  of  other  tribes  decline  the 

overtures  of;  68,  69. 
Political  and  social  condition  oi;  57. 
•Popularity,  the  mode  of  securing,  In, 

Tar  and  feathers  temper  freedom  of 

thought  in,  63. 
Tories  lead  a  devil  of  a  life  in,  62. 
Treatment  of  officials  in,  61. 
Meadows,  General,  reproaches  Sir  W  1111am 

Howe,  160. 
Mlschianza,  fete  of  the,  165, 181. 
Mob  ephlt,  prevalence  o£  in  New  En-'- 
land,  55,  56.  ° 

Moody,  the  spy,  at  "West  Point,  272. 
Montgomery,  General,  to  Schuyler  on  the 
propensity  of  the  soldiers  to  steal, 
88, 

Moses's  Law,  i.  e.,  thirty-nine,  frequently 

administered  in  New  England,  77 
Munchausen,  Captain  Frederick,  aid  to 

General  Howe,  146.  i 

Mutiny  of  American  troops,  and  general 

dissatisfaction  of  the  people,  262, 

254* 

N 

Negro,  character  and  habits  of  the,  300,301. 
New  England  troops,  Puritanical  names 
among,  481,  4i32. 


New  York,  Andrd's  execution,  offoct  oC 
In,  4011.  ^ 

Appearance  in  1778,  of,  200,  207. 
Boston,  travel  between,  and,  56. 
Belies,  the  reigning,  of;  210-212. 
Bowerie  of  Jacobus  Kip  in,  267. 
Dining  by  candle-light  In,  210. 
Dtanor  to  Andrd  at  the  Bowerie,  in, 

Elopementa  with  British  officers  in. 

Evacuation  by  the  Americans,  1776, 

of,  184. 
Ev*Bimtlon  by  the  British,  1783,  of; 

Fortifications,  the  powerf\iI,  of;  207. 
I^st  hours  of  Andre  in,  267. 
Lobsters  at  Hell-Gate  destroyed  bv 
cannonading,  208. 

Jil^.Y'XF'""'^  <^"*  ^  vogue  in,  210. 
Philadelphia,  travel  between,  and,  54. 
Kefugees,  American,  in,  209. 
Sons  of  Liberty  in,  55. 
Theatiical  and  other  amusements  In, 

Watches,  custom  of  wearing  two,  in, 

XT  ?^*"t«'"  of  unusual  severity  in,  280. 
Neutral  ground  reached  by  Andr6,  806. 
Newport,  investment  oi;  194-197. 

O 

Ogden,  Captain  Aaron,  mission  of,  fh>m 
Washington  to  save  An6re,  366. 


Paoll,  night  attack  at,  110. 
Parliament,  discordant  views  in  the  Brit- 
ish, 48. 
Personal  feeling  leads  to  intemperate 

statements  In,  49,  60. 
Washington,  by  arms,  refutes  slan- 
ders uttered  In,  49. 
P»''8on^  General  Samuel  H.,  character  o^ 

Patriot,  a  true  picture  of  the  ardent  123 
PatterMn,  General  John,  litUe  known  of, 

Paulding,  John,  account  of;  463. 
Penhigton,   Edward,   anecdote    retained 

In  fhmily  of,  181. 
Philadelphia,  amusements  and  pursuits 
of  British  officers  In,  145-158 
Andre's  arrival  at,  44. 
British  army  occupies.  111. 
Congress  meets  at  Carpenter's  Hal] 
in,  46. 

Custom-house  at,  broken  open,  53. 

Delegates  to  Congre8^  entertainment 
at  the  State-house  to,  by  the  local 
gentry  of;  53.  '    -^      ^  '">«» 

^mKri^  the  British  army  in 


''^^^lii^^'Aiitbn^jiik,.^ 


execution,  effect  oi; 

m,  of,  200,  20T. 
itween,  anil,  fiS. 
ing,  ot;  210-212, 
>us  Kip  iu,  207. 
!-ll?htln,  210. 
at  the  Boworlo,  in, 

I  British  officers  In, 

lie  Americans,  ITTd, 

ho  British,  1783,  oi; 

I  powerftil,  of;  207. 

Ire  in,  267. 

■Gate  destroyed  by 

)Ht 

In  voffue  in,  210. 

el  between,  and,  64. 

an,  in,  209. 

^65. 

ior  amusements  In, 

of  wearing  two,  In, 

I  severity  In,  280. 
d  by  Andr6,  800. 
>t,  184-197. 


,  mission  of,  fW)m 
ave  iVndrfi,  866. 


10. 

views  in  the  Brit- 

ids  to  Intemperate 

,  60. 

■ms,  refutes  slan- 

9. 

sl  H.,  character  oi; 

f  the  ardent,  12.3. 
3,  little  known  of, 

;  of;  463. 

necdote    retained 

Its  and  pursuits 

In,  146-15S. 

4. 

es,  111. 

Carpenter's  Hall 

oken  open,  53. 
8^  entertainment 
8  to,  by  the  local 

British  army  in 


INDEX. 


477 


rhiladolphlft,  false  news  of  flghtlne,  and 
its  effect  in,  62. 
Feoiinp  not  hostile  to  England  in,  46. 
Fortifications  and  disposition  of  Brit- 
ish troops  In,  116-118. 
Mifchianza,  account  by  Andrfi  of  the. 

In,  167-177. 
Plundering  by  soldiers  In,  124-126. 
Prisoners,  suffering  of,  in,  189. 
Kevlcw  of  the  British  army  in,  146. 
Social  life,  ease  and  elegance  of;  In, 

119-122. 
Theatricals,  amateur.  In,  1.52. 
W.isbington's  army  passes  through, 
107. 
Poetry,  the,  on  Major  Andr6,  464-409. 
Portsmouth,  fort  at,  captured,  71. 
Praise-God    Barebones   style  of  names 
among  Massachusetts  troops,  431. 
Prison-ships,  horrors  of  the,  189. 
Prisoners,  treatment  of,  In  America,  M. 
Profanity  at   head-quarters   complained 

of  by  a  Connecticut  captain,  78. 
Punishment  of  soldiers,  bloody  ond  cruel 
252,  258. 

n 

Kcd  Bank,  Donop  moves  against,  127. 
Kobcrtson,    the   arch-flend    and    coin- 
sweater,  877. 
Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  letter  to,  by,  878. 
Washington,  letters  to,  by,  861-881. 
Eoblnson,  Beverly,  account  of,  203. 

Andr6  goes  to  Dobb's  Ferry  with, 

268. 
Arnold's  letter  to,  272. 
Breakfast  of  Washington  at  house  o£ 

328. 
Washington,  letter  to,  by,  831. 
Kochambeau,  strength  of,  at  Newport,  231. 
Komilly,  Sir  Samuel,  opinion  of,  as  to  the 
caseof  Andr6,413. 


S 

Safe-conduct,  as  to  validity  of  Arnold's, 

486. 
St.  Andrfi,  Nicholas,  remarkable  career  of; 

2-5. 
St.  Clair,  General  Arthur,  sketch  of  the 

unfortunate,  426. 
St.  John's  surrendered  by  Major  Preston, 

Sanford  and  Merton,  story  of,  by  the  ec- 
centric Thomas  Day,  37. 

Seward,  Miss  Anna,  and  society  at  Lich- 
field, 10, 11. 
Letter  to  Miss  Ponsonby  about  Wash- 
ington and  Andre's  execution,  by, 
891.  ^ 

Shlppen,  Edward,  and  his  family,  151. 

Slmcoe,  orders  of,  on  death  of  Andr6, 404. 

Smith,  Joshua  Hett,  character  of,  and  the 
extent  of  his  complicity  with  Ar- 
nold, 2S0,  2S4,  299. 


Smith,  J.  Hett,  Andrfi  abandoned  by,  806. 
Smuggling  not  viewed  with  aversion  In 

the  colonics,  64. 
Sneyd,  Honora,  meets  AndrS,  ond  death 

oi;  12-87. 
SneydlKirough,  North  Carolina,  named  by 

Edgeworth,  88. 
Sons  of  Liberty  in  New  York,  and  Oou- 

vemeur  Morris  thereon,  66. 
Spies,  Instances  of  celebrated,  4.3S-442. 
Treatment  by  Americans  of,  8.55. 
Stark,  General  John,  clvaractor  of,  4ii9. 
Steuben,  Baron,  character  of;  428,  429. 
Stlrilng,  General  Lord,  character  of,  42.5. 
Stony  Point,  capture  of;  by  Wayne,  219. 
Suspicions,  mean  and  xmjust,  entertained 

by  Congressmen  and  others,  883. 
Sutherland,  Captain,  of  the  Vulture, writes 

to  Clinton,  887. 


Tallmadge,  Colonel,  character  o^  822. 
Heath,  General,  letter  to,  with  account 

of  Andre's  last  days,  by,  469-471. 
Views  of  AndrS's  captors,  of  Andre, 
and  of  Arnold,  bj',  818-823. 

Tarleton,  Banaatre,  the  cool  and  reckless. 
148, 149. 

Tlconderoga  taken  "with  uncommon  ran- 
cor," by  Ethan  Allen,  75. 

Toft,  Mary,  the  Impostor,  as  a  rabbit- 
breeder,  8. 

Travel  between  Boston  and  Philadelphia, 
r4,  55. 

Treason,  price  paid  Arnold  for  his,  292. 

Truce,  flag  ot,  fired  upon,  279. 

Trumbull,  Colonel,  imprisonment  in  Eng- 
land, of;  406. 


Valley  Forge,  the  American  army  at,  143, 

144. 
Van  Wart,  Isaac,  account  o?  468. 
V  J'i;m-e,  Andr6  leaves  the,  with  defective 
measures  for  his  return,  28^290. 
Personages  carried  on  the,  269. 
Keturn  to  New  York,  of  the,  832. 


W 

War,  Revolutionary,  England's  admirable 
condition  for  the,  50. 

American  condition  for  the,  51. 
W^ashlngton,  Andr6,  desiring  to  be  shot, 
writes  to,  891. 

Andre  never  seen  by,  337. 

Arnold,  on  the  Impropriety  of  his  In- 
terview with  Eoblnson,  spoken  to 
by,  270. 

Arnold,  threatening  retaliation,  writes 
to,  888. 

Arnold,  Mrs.,  informed  that  her  hus- 
L.and  was  on  the  Vulture,  by,  834. 


478 


INDEX. 


Wnshlnpton,  Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  letter  to, 
by,  8M. 
Return  to  West  Point,  ot  827. 
Robertson,  reply  to,  bv,  86'i. 

Sn'lJto  neglected,  and 'Indignation  of, 
882. 

Smith,  J.  Hett,  reeeptlon  of;  by,  SST. 
Stealing  repressed    by  flogging,  by 

order  ot,  88. 
Treatment  of  AndrS  and  Smith  by 

direction  of,  840. 
Wrath,  tremendous,  ot,  845. 
Wayne's  ottack  on  the  wood-cutters,  28«. 
West  Point,  Andr6  brought  prisoner  to, 
887. 
Arnold  appointed  to  command  of;  251. 
Clinton's  hopes  of   the  capture  of; 

Considered  an  American  Gibraltar, 
because  of  the  strength  of,  265. 

Defences  made  insecure  by  Arnold 
nt,  2»8, 294. 

Garrison  armed  and  defences  renaircd 
at,  888.  * 

Salute  to  Washington  neglected  at,882. 1 


West  Point,  Washington  returns  In  llmo 
to  save,  827. 

Westchester  County,  condition  of  affairs 
In,8()fr^l0. 

Westminster  Abbey,  cenotai)h  to  AndrS 
in,  40S-411. 

Wharton,  curious  anecdote  of  Duke,  105. 

Whltemarsh,  General  Howe  fiars  to  at- 
tack Washington  at,  182. 

Williams,  David,  account  of,  46-i. 


Yale  College,  sketch  of  himself  by  Andrfi, 

preserved  In,  870. 
Yankee   D(xxlle's  expedition    to  Rhode 

Island,  195-197. 


Zcdwltz,  Colonel,  treason  of,  to  deliver 
West  Point,  251. 


THE   END. 


?ton  rotiirus  In  llmo 

,  condition  of  affairs 

,  cenota[)h  to  Andro 

fcdot«  of  Duke,  ICB. 
I  Howe  ft'ars  to  at- 
on  at,  182. 
>unt  of,  4M. 


»f  himself  by  Andrd, 
70.  ' 

pudition    to  Rhode 


lason  of,  to  dollvoi 
I. 


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la. 

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ook. 

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o  Late. 

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). 

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less. 


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stry.  on  idler. 

I. 

nee. 

•e. 

r's  Village. 


